Gloucester Rugby showcased their resilience and determination as they secured a 24-17 victory over Montpellier at the GGL Stadium, advancing to the quarter-final of the EPCR Challenge Cup where they are set to face Bath.
Facing adversity from multiple contentious officiating decisions, the Cherry and Whites fought back from a 14-0 deficit, ultimately scoring three tries through Freddie Thomas, Cam Jordan, and Ruan Ackermann, with Santi Carreras making significant contributions to the scoreboard. George Skivington, the director of rugby, lauded his team’s ability to secure an “ugly win” in the crucial knockout stage, emphasizing their resilience and unwavering commitment.
The match, contrasting their previous dazzling performance against Bristol Bears, highlighted the team’s forward pack dominance in the game against Montpellier. Skivington commended the perseverance of the entire pack, acknowledging their collective effort in overcoming the formidable challenge posed by the French opponents.
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The clash saw notable displays from players on both sides, with Jordan’s try exemplifying Gloucester’s tenacity as he powered through Montpellier’s defense, while Ackermann’s try solidified their commanding presence in the game, despite facing a man disadvantage due to a contentious yellow card.
The lineup featured skilled players from both teams, and the game was officiated by Morne Ferreira, assisted by Griffin Colby and Christopher Allison, with Mark Patton serving as the TMO.
Gloucester Rugby:
Santiago Carreras, Christian Wade, Chris Harris, Seb Atkinson, Jacob Morris, Charlie Atkinson, Caolan Englefield, Ciaran Knight, Jack Singleton, Kirill Gotovtsev, Cameron Jordan, Freddie Thomas, Jack Clement, Lewis Ludlow (c), Ruan Ackermann
Montpellier:
Anthony Bouthier, Pierre Lucas, Thomas Darmon, Arthur Vincent, George Bridge, Hugo Reus, Leo Coly, Enzo Forletta, Christopher Tolofua, Mohamed Haouas, Florian Verhaeghe, Mahonri Ngakuru, Lenni Nouchi, Sam Simmonds, Billy Vunipola ©