European Challenge Cup/Second round, second leg: It was always going to be a formality, with risks. And thus it proved. Some 53 points ahead going into last evening's European Challenge Cup second leg, Connacht were always going to advance, but a wounded Montpellier were never going to make it easy.

Hopes of avoiding a dog fight were scuppered early on with some robust forward exchanges, a problematic scrum, and a mounting penalty count. But it manifested itself in a torrid second half full of off-the-ball fisticuffs, stoppages, and penalties. And Italian referee Karlo Damasco, booed off the pitch by the frustrated 1,000 spectators, sent four players to the sin-bin - three Montpellier men.

The French outfit's intention became clear early on - to win by hook or by crook to restore some pride from their first leg walloping. With nine changes they achieved the victory, but the cynical nature of their game ensured Connacht walked away with their heads held high to again qualify for a European quarter-final meeting in January with Dean Richards' Grenoble.

Although Connacht entered the match without pressure, they found it difficult to repeat their Sportsground spectacle, and despite a solid lineout, well-worked maul, and some nifty footwork from the three-quarters, particularly Matt Mostyn and James Downey, the nature of this game mitigated against any free-flowing rugby. Both sides scored a try apiece in the opening half, but three penalties in the second half - two from the boot of Eric Elwood, told its own story.

It took Montpellier 22 minutes before they did make their bullying presence felt on the scoreboard when Connacht conceded a soft try with Conor McPhillips and Elwood unable to stop hooker Olivier Diomade going over after full back Frederic Benazech had made the initial burst up field. Montpellier's right wing Davide Bortolossi extended the lead with his second penalty attempt after 29 minutes.

In a tense opening half Connacht were more guilty than their hosts of unforced errors, yet their first real foray into their opponent's 22 yielded a penalty after Bernard Jackman had set up the scoring platform from the kick-off.

Mostyn's right-wing sprint and ensuing ruck forced Montpellier off side and centre Paul Warwick kicked the 22-metre effort to get on the scoreboard.

Montpellier appeared content to take their penalty kicks with Bortolussi adding two more before the break, but Warwick's intercept from 40 metres out put a better complexion on Connacht's tally when he raced in unimpeded for a 35th-minute try, bringing the half-time score to 16-8 (19-67 on aggregate).

Thereafter the game descended into a dog fight with both sides bringing in their full complement of replacements - Connacht with four injuries to Michael Swift, and replacements Conor O'Loughlin, and Dan McFarland.

Chris Keane was the first player to be sin-binned, but his yellow card came from a repeated infringement at the ruck. He was soon followed by Montpellier scrumhalf Sebastian Buada who tap-danced on Elwood after the Connacht man had stopped a Montpellier surge.

Elwood added to his illustrious kicking record with a 52nd-minute penalty, and while Bortolussi got one back 11 minutes later to take a 19-11 lead, the game descended into a barrage of off-the-ball antics with number eight Louis Picamolles and lock Samuel Nouchi following their scrumhalf to the sin bin.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 22 mins: O Diomande try, Bortolussi conversion 7-0; 29: Bortolussi penalty 10-0; 31: Warwick penalty 10-3; 33: Bortolussi penalty 13-3; 35: Warwick try 13-8; 42: Bortolussi penalty 16-8; Half-time: 16-8; 52: Elwood penalty 16-11; 63: Bortolussi penalty 19-11; 68: Elwood penalty 19-14.

MONTPELLIER: F Benazech; D Bortolussi, A Stoica, M Taele, A Koko; B Guilloux, S Buada; J Brugnaut, O Diomande, P Tachella, C Chemin, S Nouchi, C Mathieu, J Vallee, L Picamolles. Replacements: J Tomas for Buada, J Caudillor for Diomande, C Baiocco for Tachella, M Bert for Chemin, J Tomas for Buada, M Macurdy for Picamolle, L Arbo for Bortolussi, G Townsend for Taele.

Yellow cards: S Bauda (50), L Picamolles (77), S Nouchi (81).

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; T Robinson, P Warwick, J Downey, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, S Knoop, P Myburg, A Farley (capt), M Swift, J Muldoon, J O'Sullivan. Replacement: B O'Connor for Swift (half-time), C O'Loughlin for Warwick (47 mins), D McFarland for Hogan (52 mins), J Fogarty for Jackman (57 mins), C Short for Myburgh (51 mins), M Walls for O'Loughlin (60 mins).

Yellow cards: Keane (47).

Referee: K Damasco (Italy).