Got an opinion?
Discuss this article in the comments section or register with the glasgowwarriors.com forum.

Search this site

December 12, 2003

Glasgow Warriors 38 - 13 Montpellier

Parker Pen Challenge Cup match played at Hughenden on Friday December 12th 2003 | 6 comments
Glasgow duly disposed of the spirited but naive Frenchmen to set up an attractive tie against Saracens in the next round of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup.

Nursing a 30-11 advantage from the first leg in Carcassonne, Hugh Campbell’s team never looked in danger of wrecking the work put in on the other side of the Channel.

But they had to rely on a quickfire try-double by wing Sean Lamont to ease the jitters after an unconvincing first 40 minutes.

Having been promoted to the top flight of the French championship at the end of last season, Montpellier had made it clear that they regarded both matches as exercises in gaining experience at European level, and will be glad of the opportunity for a prolonged run in the consolation Shield competition.

Glasgow were again without World Cup full-back Glenn Metcalfe, who is still trying to shake off the effects of a knee problem. In addition, Paul Dearlove was forced to forfeit his place on the bench to after damaging an ankle shortly after entering the fray last weekend.

Montpellier made nine changes to their line-up, emphasising the fact that they regarded the overall tie as a lost cause, but Glasgow were taken by surprise as the visitors raced into attack.

The defence was pressured into giving away an offside penalty virtually under their crossbar, handing Jeremy Valls the simplest three points of his career.

Warriors shrugged off the early setback to regain control Dan Parks banging over an identical score from 40 metres - then another from close range.

The penalty ping-pong continued as Valls found the target following another fringe offside near the Glasgow line - with Parks instantly restoring the margin.

Montpellier suffered a triple set-back just before the break when lock John Daniell - their try scorer in the first leg - was yellow carded for punching. Parks converted the penalty.

There was still enough time for Lamont to slide over in the corner for the first touchdown, Parks adding the conversion.

A minute after the restart Lamont skipped in for try No2, Parks again slotting the extras.

Further scores from centre Andy Henderson and Gordon Bulloch turned the contest into a rout, though substitute Thierry Gras snatched a consolation try for Montpellier.

Report from The Scotsman

Referee A Lombardi (ITA)
Man of the Match Dan Parks
Team
1
Euan Murray
2
Gordon Bulloch
3
Andrew Kelly
4
Andy Hall
5
Nathan Ross
6
Cammy Mather
7
Donnie Macfadyen
8
Jon Petrie
9
Graeme Beveridge
10
Dan Parks
11
Sean Lamont
12
Andrew Henderson
13
Gareth Maclure
14
Rory Kerr
15
Stuart Moffat
Sub
Scott Lawson
Sub
Lee Harrison
Sub
Joe Beardshaw
Sub
Roly Reid
Sub
Sam Pinder
Sub
Calvin Howarth
Sub
Alan Bulloch
Match Substitutions
Off On
Nathan Ross Joe Beardshaw
Off On
Andrew Kelly Lee Harrison
Off On
Graeme Beveridge Sam Pinder
Off On
Cammy Mather Roly Reid
Off On
Gordon Bulloch Scott Lawson
Scorers
Dan Parks Penalty
Dan Parks Penalty
Dan Parks Penalty
Dan Parks Penalty
Sean Lamont Try 
Dan Parks Conversion
Sean Lamont Try 
Dan Parks Conversion
Andrew Henderson Try 
Dan Parks Conversion
Gordon Bulloch Try 
Comments
Posted by mac on December 13, 2003 08:59 AM | Reply to this comment

Great team performance looks like the team are starting to gel. A great run from Ross in the first half and some outstanding play from Mather, Hall, Beveridge, Parks and Lamont.

Posted by Gordon on December 13, 2003 10:38 AM | Reply to this comment

Big Nathan has been a bit of an unsung hero for Glasgow this season.

Posted by jimc on December 14, 2003 09:45 PM | Reply to this comment

Been top man as far as I'm concerned, certainly among the forwards. Do you know if Glasgow keep/make available stats on players performance - eg yards ball carried, tackle count etc. Would be interesting reading for anoraks like the folk who frequent your websites (like me) -and wouldn't mind a wee bet that Nathan has made far more hard yards that any other forward.

Posted by Gordon on December 14, 2003 11:23 PM | Reply to this comment

Not sure jimc - but I'll try and find out.

Posted by d. (admin) on December 15, 2003 01:30 AM | Reply to this comment

this type of information would be easy to present alongside the player profiles if a notebook-weilding spod could collect it for the website and its readers!

Posted by Gordon on December 15, 2003 07:29 AM | Reply to this comment

You talking about me, Dave???

Add a comment to this article

If you're replying to an existing comment, please use the 'Reply to this comment' link above the entry. This will display the comments in a way which is far easier for other readers to follow.