Myler finds kicking form to see Saints to victory
Montpellier 24 Saints 28
Northampton Saints held off a second half Montpellier fight back to make it five pool two wins out of five in the European Challenge Cup at the Stade Yves du Manoir.
Tries from Chris Mayor, Stephen Myler and Sean Lamont secured Saints the win, with Myler also rediscovering his form with the boot, but Montpellier scored two tries in a second-half minute to put the seemingly cruising visitors under pressure.
Montpellier had the first shot at the posts as Scott Gray was ruled offside and from the left touchline Francois Trans-Duc landed it to make it 3-0 after two minutes.
Myler hit the post from a similar position a minute later.
But Saints quickly made amends as Paul Diggin skipped round a tackler and fed Mayor who ran through some weak Montpellier defence to register the first try after eight minutes. Myler landed the easy conversion to make to 7-3.
Montpellier were intent on revenge after their hammering at the Gardens and from a 30m lineout they smashed over Saints' line, but flanker Jerome Vallee was held up by a combination of the post and the visitors. Vallee unleashed his frustration with a big swinging right hook that landed on Chris Ashton's chin.
Ashton recovered and after the ensuing melee Vallee was shown the yellow card after 12 minutes. He was lucky not to get a red.
After a Ben Foden burst from his own half into Montpellier's 22, Myler ran on to a nice pass after a Dylan Hartley surge into the opposing pack's midrift to dummy and dive over. Myler missed the conversion to leave the score at 12-3 just before Vallee returned.
Just a minute later Trinh-Ducc missed a penalty from 45m.
Saints held out a 5m lineout drive, but then No.8 Louis Picamoles slipped a tackle, but knocked on trying to offload with the tryline inches away.
Mark Easter caught Myler's kick-off and won a penalty, but the fly-half hit the other post. Five minutes later Saints' scrum won a penalty and Myler finally got a penalty over the posts to make it 15-3 to Saints.
After failing with the battering ram a lovely scissor move saw Trinh-Duc send Frikkie Welsh over under the posts. Trinh-Duc landed the conversion to make it 15-10.
And a minute later Welsh powered 60m and Louis Picamoles ploughed through Hartley to touch down. Trinh-Duc landed the conversion to put Montpellier 17-15 ahead.
On 59 minutes Myler puts Saints back in front with a 30m penalty right in front to make it 18-17 to the visitors. Myler missed another penalty from the touchline, but on 68 minutes with Saints dominating territory the French were offside and the fly-half knocked it over to make it 21-17.
But Courtney Lawes let the re-start bounce and Saints were then caught offside. Trinh-Duc shanked the 25m kick wide though.
With a minute left on the clock Saints pick up a dropped Montpellier pass and Sean Lamont turned lock Goncalo Uva inside out and stormed over from 30m. Myler landed the touchline conversion to make it 28-17.
But with time up Igancio Fernandez Lobbe dropped the ball on his 22 and centre Grant Rees kicked on to score
Montpellier: Alcalde; Boussuge, Welsh, Mirande, Kuzbik; Trinh-Duc, J Tomas; Van Niekerk, Rofes, Douglas, Uva, Macurdy, Bost, Valle, Picamoles,
Replacements: Caudullo, Toleafoa, Goze, Chouchan, A Tomas, Lubbe, Rees.
Northampton Saints: Reihana (capt); Ashton, Clarke, Mayor, Diggin; Myler, Foden; Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Stewart, Day, Kruger, Easter, Gray, Hopley.
Replacements: Shields, Smith, Fernandez Lobbe, Lawes, Dickson, Spencer, Lamont.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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