mens
investec-champions-cup
The Stormers opened their Champions Cup campaign in emphatic fashion with a seven-try 49-12 victory over Pat Lam’s Bristol The Bears in Cape Town, overcoming both a 20-minute red card and a second-half sin bin to secure a bonus-point win.
John Dobson’s side suffered a setback before kick-off when captain Ruhan Nel withdrew through injury, while Wandi Simelane was promoted to the starting midfield and Paul de Villiers took over as captain. Any disruption was quickly forgotten as the hosts took an early lead.
Seabelo Senatla struck first in the seventh minute after Bristol were exposed in midfield, the winger sprinting clear to finish. The former Springbok Sevens star then turned provider nine minutes later, beating several defenders before sending over Leolin Zass for the Stormers’ second.
Bristol hit back through Joe Owen in the 23rd minute, the winger finishing down the touchline after dispossessing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. However, the hosts regained control before the break when Jonathan Roche burst over after being released by Damian Willemse to make it 21-7 at the break.
The Stormers’ task was made even more complicated when hooker JJ Kotzé received a 20-minute red card for an equalizer on Bristol captain Kieran Marmion just before half-time.
Bristol enjoyed their strongest spell after the restart and capitalized when substitute Sol Moody chipped away at a tackle to score. The visitors were further encouraged when Zas was sent to the sin bin following a TMO review, leaving the Stormers temporarily down to 13 men.
However, the Bears were unable to make their advantage count. A mix-up under a high ball gave Roche his second try, decisively shifting the momentum back to the home side.
As space opened up in the closing stages, the Stormers poured it on. Fellow substitutes Warrick Gelant and André-Hugo Venter crossed before Zas added his second try of the afternoon to complete the rout.
