Stormers maintain perfect record after beating La Rochelle in Gqeberha

Stormers maintain perfect record after beating La Rochelle in Gqeberha

The Stormers continued their perfect start to the season following a 42-21 victory against La Rochelle in the Champions Cup clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

After six wins out of six in the United Rugby Championship, the Cape side have now notched up two consecutive victories in the Champions Cup.

With the DHL Stadium in Cape Town not available this weekend, the game was moved to another coastal city and the Gqeberha faithful certainly witnessed a thrilling contest.

The Stormers scored six tries in total to the visitors' three to bag a bonus-point win from the game.

The home team raced into a 10-0 lead thanks to tries by wingers in Dylan Maart and  Leolin Zas but Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu failed with both conversions.

Quentin Lespiaucq hit back with a five-pointer for the French side following a powerful maul but the hosts took 16-7 lead into the halftime break when Feinberg-Mngomezulu slotted two penalties.

The hosts started the second half with a maul try from hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, but were soon reduced to 14 men when prop Neethling Fouche was shown a yellow card for a high tackle.

La Rochelle took advantage with the extra man as replacement hooker Nikolozi Sutidze forced his way over for his team's second try.

The Stormers then pulled away on the scoreboard as Maart grabbed his brace while Warrick Gelant also crashed over.

Kane Douglas pulled a try back back for the visitors but Marcel Theunissen sealed an emphatic victory for the hosts with a late score.

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