A late try by Paul Willemse secured a crucial 13-03 win for Montpellier over the Emirates Lions in an EPCR Challenge Cup round three match on Saturday.
Montpellier fly-half Paolo Garbisi missed two first-half penalties before the boot of his opposite number Jordan Hendrikse put Lions ahead at the break.
But centre Geoffrey Doumayrou got the first try of the match for the hosts three minutes into the second half - and though Garbisi missed the conversion, he scored his first penalty of the evening in the 49th minute.
Replacement Paul Willemse scored Montpellier Herault Rugby's second eight minutes from time, giving them a bit of breathing space in the last few moments.
Montpellier Herault Rugby continue their impressive unbeaten record in the competition, while Emirates Lions fall to their first defeat in the three rounds thus far.
Both teams are now confirmed qualifiers for the Round of 16 but will face key battles in Round 4 as they push to finish as high as possible for the knockout seedings.
Emirates Lions will face Ospreys, while Montpellier Herault Rugby will travel to Benetton Rugby.
Scorers:
Montpellier Herault Rugby: Tries: Geoffrey Doumayrou, Paul Willemse. Penalty: Paolo Garbisi.
Emirates Lions: Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse.
Teams
Montpellier Herault Rugby: 15 Julien Tisseron, 14 George Bridge, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Jan Serfontein (captain), 11 Masi Dakuwaqa, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Mael Perrin, 7 Clement Doumenc, 6 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 5 Bastien Chalureau, 4 Tyler Duguid, 3 Lasha Macharashvili, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Gregory Fichten. Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Enzo Forletta, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Cantin Foguet, 21 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 22 Auguste Cadot, 23 Thomas Darmon.
Emirates Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naudé. Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Travis Gordon, 22 Johan Mulder, 23 Gianni Lombard.