The Rochelais were able to capitalize on their domination to dispose of the English from Bristol and take the offensive bonus point (35-7). The power of the Maritimes made the difference and Ronan O'Gara's men were able to accelerate in the second act to achieve a convincing success. After its success in Bath on the first day, Stade Rochelais continues.
The meeting was pleasant between two teams who projected themselves forward and put a lot of intensity into the game. But the pace was often slowed down by the numerous calls for video (all legitimate, however). Already on one of the first actions of the match, to check a tackle from Bristol hooker, Oghre, who hit Kerr-Barlow in the head and received a yellow card (5th). Then to check the validity of Jack Nowell's try, who had to pull off a balancing act to score on West's foot pass, before his exit with a dead ball (7-0, 18th). Also on Tolu Latu's try, following a maul collapsed on the line. In the confusion, the hooker was at the conclusion (14-0, 29th).
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Champions Cup – Notes from La Rochelle – Bristol: Skelton and Alldritt at the forefront
It was much clearer that Danty flattened (33rd) but Haddad had committed a forward pass on West's foot. No double for Nowell either, pushed back into touch by two defenders as he dived into the corner of the goal, an action played to the millimeter (48th). On the other hand, the refereeing body awarded the try to Levani Botia, who resisted the intervention of two defenders (21-7, 51st). Alldritt did not have this chance at the very end of the match (80 + 4th), because he had flattened just before the line, insufficient to grant him the mark.
Rochelais still sometimes irregular
Despite the large advantage in the score, the Maritimes could have managed the meeting better. For example, they did not know how to exploit the numerical superiority at the start of the match, and could even have conceded the opening score in this period. When Ravouvou made a big acceleration (23rd), he eliminated three Rochelais before passing to Elizalde, who forced Leyds to make a huge tackle at the last second to prevent the try. Haddad made a forward move ten meters from his line (37th) and put his team in difficulty. And on West's clearance, the touch was quickly played, Bates showed himself better in the air and eliminated three opponents to score the points for the Bears (14-7, 40th).
The second period was better, with only one dangerous action for the visitors, on an interception by Oghre. Ravouvou was caught within 5m (54th). But once this difficulty was over, Ronan O'Gara's men managed the end of the match well, camping in the opposing camp. Seuteni scored the bonus try in force, after a touch inside 22m (28-7, 67th). The Maritimes pushed well after the siren for a fifth try from Berjon, opportunistic on a scrum at 5m. A great conclusion from the kid of the club, for a great European evening.
