BRISTOL SLUMP CONTINUES

Bristol's winless start to the season continued as they were put to the sword by Montpellier in their opening European Challenge Cup game. The game, which saw the French outfit run out 33-15 winners, started at a frenetic pace with Pieter van Niekerk, Francois Trinh-Duc and Thierry Brana crossing for the hosts and Lee Robinson and Iain Grieve going over for the visitors in the opening quarter. It was indiscipline which proved most costly for Richard Hill's men as Argentine fly-half Federico Todeschini kicked four penalties for the French to ease them to victory. Magners League basement side Connacht got their European campaign off to a fine start with a 30-12 away victory over Dax. Captain John Muldoon... [read full story]