Montpellier 12 Sale Sharks 5 SHARKS lost to Montpellier Herault in their opening game of the 16th Challenge Armand Vaquerin Tournament, played at Millau.

A youthful side included debutants David Bishop and Jack Forster. Overnight storms and a rainy morning had subsided, making way for a pleasant evening with a temperature of 18 degrees.

Charlie Hodgson scored the Sharks' first try of the game, in reply to a penalty from Montpellier, but it was the French side who added a further three points to lead 6-5 at half time.

Kingsley Jones made three interval replacements: James Gaskell for Sean Cox, Ryan Glynn for Will Cliff and David Seymour for David Tait, as he carried out his intention to give all the players some game time during the five pre-season fixtures before the opening Guinness Premiership encounter against champions Leicester Tigers at Edgeley Park on Friday, 4th September (7.45 p.m.).

By the hour mark, the Sharks had gone 5-9 behind after a third penalty, and had lost Oriol Ripol and David Seymour to injuries. Worse was to come as Montpellier made it 12-5 with a fourth penalty. Victory for 'les bleu et blanc' in the opening skirmish.

Sharks starting fifteen: Nick Macleod; Selorm Kuadey, David Bishop, Lee Thomas, Oriol Ripol; Charlie Hodgson, Will Cliff; Rob O'Donnell, Marc Jones, Jack Forster, Dean Schofield (capt), Sean Cox, David Tait, James Jones, Carl Fearns.

Replacements bench: Ben Roberts, Gavin Kerr, Martin Halsall, James Gaskell, Brent Cockbain, Luke Abraham, David Seymour, Alex Shaw, Ryan Glynn, Chris Bell, Jonny Kennedy, Jordan Davies.

Director of Rugby Kingsley Jones said: “ Good team effort from a fairly young team. Our defence & attitude were outstanding and we didn’t concede a try. I was delighted with the set piece and the commitment of all the players.

"On the down side the penalty count was a problem and we missed a few kicks at goal. No major injury worries and I am sure the young players will take a lot of confidence from this game.”