HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE Bath 16 Montpellier 13:WORLD CUP winner Stephen Donald took centre-stage for Bath as they put their European campaign back on track with a tense victory. The New Zealander, whose penalty secured World Cup final glory for the All Blacks in Auckland last month, marked his home debut in style.
Donald created Bath’s opening try and then almost scored the second following a lengthy interception sprint, while he also slotted two penalties. After losing away to Glasgow last weekend, Bath knew they could not afford a second successive defeat.
But although they took charge early on, with wing Olly Woodburn and prop David Flatman scoring tries, Montpellier hit back through the efforts of wing Martin Bustos Moyano. He scored a try and added eight points from the boot, hauling Montpellier back after they trailed by 13 points early in the second half.
It was a fine recovery by the tournament debutants, who could have folded during Bath’s period of dominance, and they might yet have a say in a pool led by Leinster. Former England captain Lewis Moody also featured in a side that knew any more slip-ups would leave their quarter-final hopes hanging by a thread.
SCORERS: Bath– Tries: Woodburn, Flatman. Pens: Donald 2. Montpellier– Tries: Bustos Moyana. Cons: Bustos Moyana. Pens: Bustos Moyana 2.
BATH: Abendanon, Woodburn, Hipkiss, Vesty, Biggs, Donald, Claassens, Flatman, Batty, Wilson, Hooper, Caldwell, Louw, Moody, Taylor. Replacements: Lilley for Batty (48 mins); Beech for Flatman, Perenise for Wilson (both 55); Barkley for Vesty (75); McMillan for Claassens (72).
MONTPELLIER: Gonzalez Amorosino, Bustos Moyana, G. Doumayrou, Bosch, Peyras-Loustalet, Trinh-Duc, J. Tomas, Nariashvili, Creevy, Bustos, Tuineau, Privat, Mertin, Ouedraogo, Gorgodze. Replacements: Leleimalefaga for Nariashvili (48 mins); Jansen van Vuuren for Creevy, Jgenti for Bustos (both 59); Paillaugue for J Tomas (61); Audrin for Bustos Moyana (63); Hancke for Tuineau, Matadigo for Privat (both 69).
Referee: A Rolland(Ireland).
