what happened

Stade Francais come out on top of what was an excellent game of rugby. The lead changed hands several times with the boot of Palis keeping the home side in the game consistently. While the home side were more consistent, SF produced the better of the try scoring chances reflected in the 3 try's to 1 and deservedly won the match. However that said to some degree SF kept Castres in the game giving away so many penalties in the danger zone. Stade will be delighted with this win setting them off to the perfect start to the season. No doubt Castres will be disappointed to have come so close, but they know well there is a long season ahead. Thank you once again for using UR, till next time.

SF are laying siege to the line, just 5m out.

Kirkpatrick plays a crucial role in the lead up to the try where the right wing Martial crashed over for a try in the 70th minute. Palis is on hand to give the visitors a 4 point lead with just 9 minutes remaining,

Castres are probing just 5m from the SF line.

Both sides really going for it now with just under 30 minutes to go. The substitutions have given the game a new lease of life.

Excellent response by the visitors who conceded several penalties in a row before coming back and scoring a try through Ugena, The referee was unsure about the grounding but the TMO was on hand. Both sides ringing in the changes notably Kockott has just come on.

2 changes to the pack in the opening minutes of the half for the home side. Palis is also on course to extend their lead to 4.

And we are back underway with the hosts leading by 1.

On the strike of HT SF are penalised for not rolling away and once again Palis puts the ball through the posts. The visitors raced into a quick lead with a good try from Arias but the hosts remained patient and through the boot of Palis they have clawed their way back to a one point lead at HT. Both teams have been quite ill disciplined but that is not too hard to fix. We are in for another nail biting half of rugby!