Newcastle revival falls short against Montpellier

Iwan Stephens' try gave Newcastle renewed hope against Montpellier

Newcastle: (0) 19
Tries: Chick, Stephens, Blamire; Cons: Jennings, Johnson
Montpellier: (12) 24
Tries: Becognee, Lam, Bouthier, Simmonds Cons: Carbonel 2

Newcastle's brave second half fightback fell just short as they were beaten 24-19 by Montpellier in their opening Challenge Cup game.

Callum Chick, Iwan Stephens and Jamie Blamire all went over after the break for Newcastle, who went in 12-0 down.

Montpellier, themselves bottom of the Top 14, led through first-half tries from Alexandre Becognee and Ben Lam.

Newcastle made nine changes from the team that was thrashed by Leicester last week in the league and fielded a back division with an average age of 23.

Montpellier, who themselves had been winless since the opening day of their season in August, were without star names Paolo Garbisi, Cobus Reinach, Henry Thomas and Paul Willemse.

It made little difference as the Falcons' bright start broke itself on the French side's powerful pack.

On their first attack, Montpellier went ahead as back rower Becognee forced his way over from close range.

When giant Samoan wing Lam dummied his way past James Elliott and raced clear for a second try, and full-back Anthony Bouthier added a third courtesy of some weak tackling shortly into the second half to make it 17-0, it looked like Newcastle were staring down the barrel of another heavy defeat.

Two tries in the space of five minutes gave them hope.

Chick produced a strong finish in the corner and then the young backs played a telling part in another, with Ben Redshaw launching the attack and Oliver Spencer's smart kick being finished off by Stephens.

With Rory Jennings notching his first points for the club with the conversion, Falcons were suddenly within five points.

Montpellier appeared to have dashed a comeback win as a long line-out sent Sam Simmonds charging through more poor defence, the former Exeter man combining with Louis Carbonel to go over and stretch the lead out to 24-12.

Newcastle refused to lie down. Zach Kerr had a try ruled out by the television match official for a foot in touch, before a driving maul, with backs piling in, saw Blamire go over.

Falcons travel to South African side Lions for their second pool match next weekend.

Newcastle: Redshaw, Radwan, Spencer, Orlando, Stephens, Jennings, Elliott; Brantingham, Byrne, McCallum, Hawkins, De Chaves, Lockwood, Cross, Chick.

Replacements: Blamire, Brocklebank, Tampin, Cardall, Leatherbarrow, O'Sullivan, Johnson, Kerr.

Montpellier: Bouthier, Bridge, Darmon, Cadot, Lam, Carbonel, Coly; Fichten, Karkadze, Williams, Tauleigne, DuGuid, Doumenc, Becognee, Simmonds.

Replacements: Sonzogni, Tu'inukuafe, Lamositele, Chalureau, Foguet, Foursans-Bourdette, Dakuwaqa, Lucas.

Sin-bin: George Bridge (72)

Referee: Sam Grove-White

Subscribe to the Rugby Union Daily podcastAdd rugby union alerts to your BBC Sport app