Dragons suffer European loss to Montpellier

Montpellier wing Madosh Tambwe scored the opening try against Dragons

European Challenge Cup

Dragons (14) 14

Tries: Basham, O'Brien Cons: O'Brien 2

Montpellier (18) 18

Tries: Tambwe, Tauleigne Cons: Barreau Pens: Barreau 2

Dragons agonisingly slipped to defeat in the Challenge Cup opener against Montpellier in atrocious conditions in Newport.

The European game survived despite the Welsh sporting weekend's fixture list being decimated by Storm Darragh with an official crowd of 4,012 braving the extreme elements at Rodney Parade.

Dragons played into the driving wind in the first half as Montpellier dominated the opening quarter, inspired by a strong scrum.

Fly-half Aurelien Barreau kicked two penalties before wing Madosh Tambwe and number eight Marco Tauleigne produced fine finishes to establish an 18-point lead.

Dragons regrouped and responded with Wales flanker Taine Basham scoring on his 100th appearance.

This was followed by a well-worked try for full-back Angus O'Brien with the captain also slotting over two excellent conversions into the wind.

In a scoreless second-half, O'Brien missed a penalty, with the hosts unable to take advantage of the wind as Montpellier's scrum continued to dominate.

Replacement prop Aki Seiuli was held up over the Montpellier line before a final flourish of pressure and a lengthy television match official (TMO) review came to nothing as the French side celebrated the win.

Both sides were not at full strength as Montpellier, ninth in France's Top14 league, sent a largely second-string side to Wales but fielded a few first-team regulars.

Dragons were missing flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes who has had surgery to amputate the ring finger on his right hand.

Dragons were the first Welsh side in action in the Challenge Cup, with the four professional teams involved in Europe's second-tier tournament in a season where both finals will be held in Cardiff.

It was a second match in charge for Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatia following Dai Flanagan's departure.

This was another plucky performance from the home side that ultimately ended in yet another defeat.

The Gwent side are bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) having lost all six games since winning at home against Ospreys on the opening day of the season.

Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatia: "The mood is quite sombre and the realisation of opportunities missed again.

"We weren't clinical enough and there were some moments where we did not play as a team. We just have to learn faster."

Dragons: Angus O’Brien (capt); Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Will Reed, Morgan Lloyd; Josh Reynolds, James Benjamin, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Sam Scarfe, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, George Nott, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker, Cai Evans, Jared Rosser.

Montpellier: Julien Tisseron; George Bridge, Thomas Darmon, Arthur Vincent (capt), Madosh Tambwe; Aurelien Barreau, Alexis Bernadet; Enzo Forletta, Lyam Akrab, Mohamed Haouas, Florian Verhaeghe, Tyler DuGuid, Nicolas Martins, Youssouf Soucouna, Marco Tauleigne.

Replacements: Vano Karkadze, Luca Tabarot, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, Jules Veyrier, Alex Becognee, Ryan Louwrens, Thomas Vincent, Christa Powell.

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron & Christopher Allison (SARU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)