Ulster’s season came to a painful conclusion in Bilbao as Montpellier delivered a ruthless second-half performance to secure a convincing 59-26 victory and lift the EPCR Challenge Cup trophy.
Photo: Ulster Rugby on X
There were moments early on where Ulster showed promise and intensity, throwing plenty at the French side during a competitive opening half. However, Montpellier weathered the pressure superbly before taking complete control after the break with a display of power, precision and clinical finishing.
The French outfit dominated the key areas throughout the second half, with their scrum, maul and forward pack causing huge problems for Ulster. Every mistake seemed to be punished as Montpellier showcased the experience and physicality that ultimately separated the two sides on the night.
For Ulster, it was a bruising evening in the Bilbao heat and another difficult chapter in a season that once held real promise. Missing out on the URC play-offs had already been a major disappointment, and defeat in the final means the province will also face another campaign without Champions Cup rugby.
Despite the heavy defeat, there will still be lessons for Richie Murphy’s youthful squad to take moving forward. A number of younger players gained valuable experience on a major European stage, but the scale of the challenge against a side of Montpellier’s quality was clear to see.
Montpellier, meanwhile, fully deserved their victory and looked every inch champions throughout the 80 minutes. Their defensive organisation, accuracy in attack and dominance at set piece level left a lasting impression as they claimed the Challenge Cup title for the third time.
For Ulster supporters, the wait for a first major trophy since 2006 continues.
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