European Challenge Cup: Montpellier 17-40 Ulster: The Irish team book a quarter-final date against Clermont

Will Addison helped Ulster beat Montpellier with a strong second half performance

Montpellier: (17) 17

Try: Willemse, Eymeri Pencils: Foursans Disadvantages: Foursans

Ulster: (7) 40

Try: Addison, Baloucoune, Wilson, McCann, McCloskey, penalty try Disadvantages: Cooney (4)

Ulster overtook Montpellier to reach the round of 16 of the European Challenge Cup.

The visitors trailed 17-7 at half-time, but turned the game around after the French sent off Paul Willemse for a high tackle in the 41st minute.

As their discipline faltered, Montpellier spent a spell with 12 men after three yellow cards in the second half.

Ulster now face Clermont away in the quarter-finals.

Both teams were forced to make changes before kick-off, with Montpellier losing former All Black George Bridge from the team they had named on Friday.

Ulster, meanwhile, were without Ethan McIlroy, which brought Will Addison into the starting line-up, who wasn't originally involved at all.

The visitors seemed to cope well with the upheavals in the early stages and got off to a strong start, but this was canceled out by a strong turnover from Clement Doumenc.

Montpellier's superiority in defeat was to become the constant theme of the first half.

As the Top 14 contenders took the lead, Ulster were instrumental in giving them their first points score.

Addison struck further behind his own try line as he chased back a long kick, giving Montpellier a scrum five meters from goal.

The strength of the French team was evident in the close calls as captain Willemse stormed in.

If it was all about brute force, Montpellier's second score was full of guile.

Alex Becognee, who was a major thorn in Ulster's defensive side, showed his ability with the ball in hand as he played a pass for Aubin Eymeri.

The scrum-half still had a lot of work to do, but his measured chip and chase saw him go down.

Ulster were on their heels but Addison's try just before the half hour brought them back into the game.

Rob Baloucoune looked set to score himself but was narrowly brought down by his opponent Gabriel N'Gandebe.

While the ball came loose in the tackle, referee Ben Whitehouse ruled the ball had gone backwards and Addison grabbed the ball to score.

Just before half-time, Montpellier extended their lead when Louis Foursans scored a penalty – but those would be their last points.

Just a minute into the second half, Willemse was shown red for his high tackle on Addison and Ulster took control with the overplayer.

Just two minutes later, Baloucoune came out of the tackle following a flying pass from Stewart Moore.

Against just seven Montpellier strikers, Ulster had a real advantage in the scrum, but the province were initially frustrated as it would be another 20 minutes before they crossed again.

After winning a series of penalties, Ulster used a five-yard shot to set up a rolling stick which, although narrowly stopped, eventually resulted in substitute Scott Wilson driving over the goal.

John Cooney's second conversion gave Ulster the lead, which they did not lose.

In an increasingly heated battle, Florian Verhaeghe and Vano Karkadze were sent packing in quick succession, leaving Montpellier with just 12 men for just over nine of the final 15 minutes.

Shortly after Karkadze received a yellow card for his interference at the bat's side, David McCann tried from close range and Cooney converted.

There was still time for Stuart McCloskey to go over until the end and a penalty attempt added gloss to the final result, while Montpellier also had to send N'Gandebe into the sin bin.

Lineups

Montpellier: By Nardi; N'Gandebe, Lucas, Cadot, Lam; Foursana-Bourdette, Eymer; Spruces, Tolofua, Williams; Verhaeghe, Willemse (captain); Becognee, Doumenc, Simmonds.

Substitute: Karkadze, Erdocio, Macharashvili, Duguid, Camara, Carbonel, Dakuaqa, Tisseron.

Penalty box: Verhaeghe (65), Karkadze (66), N'Gandbebe (81)

Red card: Willemse (41)

Ulster: Addison; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Moore; Doak, Cooney; Kitshoff, Herring, O'Toole; O'Connor, Henderson (captain); Rea, McCann, Timoney.

Substitute: Andrew, Warwick, Wilson, Sheridan, Izuchukwu, Shanahan, Flannery, Ewers

Match officials

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WAL)

TMO: Daniel Jones