Cuthbert helps Ospreys achieve stunning double
Ospreys …………35pts
Tries: Cuthbert 22 , 54; Tipuric 64, Morris 77 Conversions: C Evans 24, 55, 65 Penalties: C Evans 31, 40+1, 43
Montpelier……29pts
Tries: Willemse 26, 34; Chalureau 47, Darmon 60, Reinach 71 Conversions: Coly 48, Bouthier 61
TEAMS
OSPREYS: Evans 7; Cuthbert 7, Collins 6, Hawkins 6 (North 63, 6), Giles 6; O Williams 6, Webb 6 (Morgan-Williams 10, 6); G Thomas 6 (Smith 51, 6), Baldwin 6 (Lake 51, 6), Botha 6 (Francis 51, 6), Beard 6, AW Jones 6, R Davies 6 (B Davies 70, 6), Tipuric 7 (c), J Morgan 6 (Morris 6, 63) Not used: Sutton MONTPELLIER: Bouthier 6; Tisseron 6, Darmon 6, Doumayrou 6, Rattez 6; Carbonel 6, Coly 6 (Reinach 51, 6); Forletta 6 (Tui'nukuafe 62, 6), Paenga-Amosa 6 (Langdon 51, 6), Lamositile 6 (Haouas 51, 6), Chalureau 6 (Stooke 57,6), Willemse 6 (c), Van Rensburg 6 (Camara 52, 6), Becognee 6, Mercer 6 Not used: Lucas, Lam
REFEREE: Karl Dickson ATTENDANCE: 3,967
Star man Alex Cuthbert -Ospreys
WING Alex Cuthbert crossed for two tries as the Ospreys completed the double over French champions Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup at the Swansea. com Stadium last night.
The Ospreys scored four tries to record a bonus-point win and to make sure they have qualified for the knockout stages of European rugby. They are now in fourth place in the table with a trip to Leicester, the English champions, next weekend.
Cuthbert with his brace, skipper Justin Tipuric and backrower Morgan Morris all crossed for tries, while Montpellier captain Paul Willemse scored two first half tries for his side.
The Ospreys recorded one of their best wins in Europe when they shocked the Top 14 champions with a 21-10 victory on French soil before Christmas.
The home side had also enjoyed a good festive season, having beaten the Scarlets and Cardiff in the Welsh derbies and suffered a narrow defeat to Irish powerhouse, Leinster, in the URC.
They welcomed back Welsh internationals Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Rhys Webb, Adam Beard, and Jac Morgan, all missing for the Leinster defeat.
Montpellier's status across the channel was demonstrated by their victory over big spenders, Racing 92, in their last outing in the Top 14, last weekend
Fly-half Louis Carbonel missed an early penalty for the visitors in a frenetic opening quarter which saw Webb leave the field with an injury.
Cuthbert crashed over from short-range after a sustained period pressure to give the home side the lead. Evans's conversion made it 7-0 before Willemse crossed for a try by the visitors.
Evans added a penalty after a high tackle on fly-half Owen Williams before captain Willemse scored his second try after a determined forward drive by Montpellier before Evans replied with his second penalty to make it 13-10 at half-time to the Ospreys.
After the break, Evans landed a third penalty but Montpellier's forwards replied almost immediately when lock Chalureau scored their third try, converted by scrum half Coly.
Cuthbert then went over for his second after a period of pressure by the home side before Evans landed the conversion but centre Thomas Darmon put Montpellier ahead with their fourth try.
Skipper Justin Tipuric then started and finished the move for the Ospreys third try when he and wing Keelan Giles swapped kicks before the Wales flanker won the race for the touchdown.
Centre Cobus Reinach hit back with the French side's fifth try before replacement backrower Morgan Morris crashed over from a driving lineout to seal the win.
