La Rochelle cruise past hapless Bristol

MATCH REPORT: La Rochelle made it two from two in the Champions Cup after dispatching Bristol Bears by 35-7 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday.

Bristol Bears delivered a battling display against the former Champions Cup winners, but a second-half surge saw the Top 14 giants get the victory.

A spectacular solo score from Bristol wing Jack Bates helped Pat Lam’s side claw their way back towards the end of the first-half that had seen La Rochelle take a 14-0 lead.

Two tries from the hosts through Jack Nowell from and Tolu Latu from close-range saw La Rochelle go two scores up, following a yellow card to Gabriel Oghre for a dangerous tackle on Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Bristol didn’t lie down, however, as the visitors scrambled well on defence at times such as a joint cover tackle from Joe Owen and Benhard Janse van Rensburg denying Nowell a brace – while on the flipside, Oghere’s interception and combination with Ravouvou and Randall almost saw the scrumhalf score a stunning second.

Levani Botia’s introduction off the bench saw the Fijian make an immediate impact, powering over from close-range for La Rochelle’s third before UJ Seuteni dotted down for the bonus point try in the 67th minute.

Bristol’s academy tighthead prop Jimmy Halliwell were introduced in the final 10 minutes as the youngster became Bristol’s youngest prop to play in the Champions Cup, but La Rochelle ultimately had the final say with a try on fulltime through Thomas Bejorn.

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Scorers

For La Rochelle
Tries: Nowell, Latu, Botia, Seuteni, Bejorn
Cons: West 5

For Bristol Bears
Try: Bates
Con: Worsley

Yellow Card: Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears: Dangerous tackle – 4′)

Teams:

Stade Rochelais: Dillyn Leyds, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Grégory Alldritt (captain), 7 Matthias Haddad, 6 Oscar Jegou, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Reda Wardi.
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Louis Penverne, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Levani Botia, 21 Judicael Cancoriet, 22 Thomas Berjon, 23 Jules Favre.

Bristol: 15 Benjamin Elizalde, 14 Jack Bates, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Joe Owen, 4 Steven Luatua (captain), 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Ben Grondona, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Rich Lane, 23 Joe Jenkins.

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Keane Davison (Ireland), Daniel Carson (Ireland)
TMO: Mark Patton (Ireland)