Heineken Champions Cup Spherical of 16 – Friday: Leinster 56-20 (82-41) Connacht, Bristol 29-35 (39-44) Cel; Saturday: Harlequins 33-20 (59-60) Montpellier, Monster vs. Exeter, La Rochelle vs. Bordeaux, Leicester vs. Clermont, Ulster vs. Toulouse; Sunday: Racing 92 vs Stade Francais
Final replace: 4/16/22 3:17 PM
Marcus Smith and England’s Harlequins playmaker missed a late flip to win the tie
Marcus Smith suffered the distress of losing as Harlequins did not get better regardless of beating rivals Montpellier within the Champions Cup 33-20.
Half of Queens’ fly and England managed to try a direct diversion for Louis Liang’s wing within the seventy fifth minute of his presentation, and Montpellier gained the final 16 match 60-59 on mixture.
The England champions, 14 factors behind final weekend’s first leg when trailing 34-0 at one level, appeared set to safe a European quarter-final spot for the primary time since 2013.
They wanted to evoke reminiscences of Gallagher’s gorgeous win final season at Bristol, when the Queens had been 28 factors behind earlier than successful after additional time.
A primary-half effort by linebacker Ho Jones, No. 8 Alex Dumbrandt, quarterbacks Joe Marchant and Linage – all transformed by Smith – underlined the Queens’ urge for food for an additional memorable flip.
Montpellier, 14th within the French Ligue 1, remained within the competitors with making an attempt middle Yvan Relech and full again Julien Tesseron.
Enjoying on the hemisphere, Louis Forsans kicked two turns and a penalty kick, whereas South African World Cup winner Handry Pollard added a penalty kick to defeat Montpellier.
Queens confirmed a single change from final weekend’s defeat, favoring winger Will Evans over Tom Lodi within the again row.
Regardless of this, Montpellier coach Philippe Saint-Andre made 13 substitutions, together with South Africa’s World Cup winner Pollard half lining up within the interior middle and former eighth-placed Zach Mercer, on the bench.
It took Quins simply 33 seconds to open their account once they kicked off the hits from their first go to to Montpellier #22.
Dumbrandt jumped by way of a gaping gap in Montpellier’s protection, sending his move to Jones unattended to run in an try that Smith diverted.
Pollard missed a chance from a long-range penalty to open Montpellier’s account, however the guests reclaimed the equaliser after 11 minutes when Forsance’s sharp break was rewarded with a strong shot from Rilhak.
Pollard’s flip tied issues up, just for Queens to attain from his subsequent assault because the shortly recycled possession produced sufficient house for Dumbrandt’s try, which Smith turned once more.
Montpellier stayed sturdy within the competitors, although, and a Forsans penalty lower their deficit halfway by way of the second quarter and underlined the size of Queens’ mission.
Then Quins scored a shocking third try after Smith began shifting the lengthy distance.
Queens scored 5 makes an attempt a day, however ceded 20 factors
He might have made the secure alternative of kick to the touch, however opted to run as an alternative, earlier than winger Kadan despatched Morley away, punching a move that Marchant gratefully scored.
Smith once more made the additions as Quins appeared to take over, nonetheless Montpellier responded eight minutes earlier than the break when Tesseron relegated after an much more spectacular work by the Foursans, who added the conversion and made it 21-17.
However the not-breathing first half had one other try and ship, and it was Queens who pounced for the fourth time.
The highly effective assault supplied precisely the platform they demanded and Lynagh scored within the nook, with Smith’s touchline conversion placing Quins forward 11 factors within the interval.
Queens could not enhance his tally within the third quarter, and Pollard’s penalty meant Montpellier had six factors in complete with 25 minutes left.
However Queens laid siege to the Montpellier line throughout a interval of coordinated strain with a pulsating encounter coming into the ultimate installment.
Luis Lena went for a late try that appeared more likely to safe the Queen’s advance
Referee Mike Adamson was lenient with the French aspect, opting to not present a yellow card regardless of them conceding eight factors in a row, however his endurance then broke and he changed prostitute Jeremy Maurward with the sin.
Smith then pounced on what seemed to be Queens’ fifth try, however Jones was penalized for passing the present, and Montpellier escaped with time.
Lynagh then despatched the gang off when he claimed his second try 5 minutes earlier than the time, however Smith’s missed conversion meant Montpellier was victorious.
