RYAN SMITH'S MONTAUBAN LOSE TO WORCESTER 18 - 41         18th November 2007

Ryan Smith played in the centres for Montauban-Tarn-et-Garonne XV as they lost 41 - 18 to English side Worcester on Saturday. Worcester have been faring poorly in the English Premier competition, but  they produced their best performance of the season at Sixways. While Montauban lost, the score line does not reflect the good impression they made. They should at least have taken a bonus point  for their attacking play.

Worcester are a good team despite their present woes in the Premiership. They run good lines and have quality international players, and they have won their last three games against Harlequins, Bucarest and now against Montauban.

 
As MTG XV drove for a try in the opening play, they deserved more than a penalty goal as a Worcester player committed a blatant  foul. Although Worcester scored three tries, Montauban

showed they had come to play when winger Jean-Emmanuel Cassin scored on the stroke of halftime to narrow the margin to 27-13. Only a rapid-fire brace of tries from Thinus Delport on an 80 metre counter-attack, and a Drahm try clinched a try bonus point for the English.

In the return match at Sapiac Montauban will have their chance to get revenge. It is worth noting that in the other pool match, Gran Parma and Bucarest tied 23 - 23. After two matches, Montauban remains second in the European Chalenge Cup pool.

Scoring for Montauban : 3 tries, by Caballero (34min), Cassin (42min), Cech (58min) and one penalty Fortassin (4 min)

Referee : M. Tim Hayes (Wales).

MONTAUBAN : Dalla-Riva ; Cech, Ryan Smith, Audrin, Cassin (Jahouer 56min) ; (0) Fortassin (Tesquet 76min), (m) Mitu (Garcia 72min) ; Raynaud (cap) (Diarra 68min), Soldan (Rolland 52min), Caballero ; Murray, Ghezal ; Sa (Peyron 62min), Traversa, Henn (Balan 40min).

WORCESTER : Pennell ; Delport, Tucker, Crichton (Benjamin 79e), Garvey ; (0) Drahm (Carliste 80e), (m) Powell (Runciman 80e) ; Sanderson (cap), Talei (Horstmann 76e), Wood ; Gillies (Bowley 61e), Murphy ; Taumoepeau, Lutui (Fortey 72e), Morris (Mullan 61e).