La Rochelle vs Bristol Bears: A look at the numbers

It was a textbook scoring match between La Rochelle and the Bristol Bears in the final fixture of Saturdays edition of Round 2 in the Champions Cup. In a game that saw no penalty conversions and the Bears restricted to zero points in the second half, here are some key moments from the match.

4 mins - Gabriel Oghre Yellow card after there was no mitigation

9 mins - A strong scrum from the bears earns them a penalty and they find touch

10 mins - Bears find touch after a penalty but La Rochelle managed to stop the maul that followed up, holding the ball up on the try line.

15 mins - Oghre returns after his yellow card

16 mins - La Rochelle scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s decision to switch right after going left found fly-half Ihaia West who cross kicked it to Jack Nowell who scored one of the best try finishes ever seen.

27 mins - Tolu Latu’s Try was reviewed by the TMO after he picked up from the back of a ruck and was awarded after much deliberation

31 mins - Try saving tackle by Bristols Jack Bates after a Skip pass from West found Dillan Lleyds.

32 mins - Another dangerous cross kick by West almost found Ulupano Seuteni behind the Bristol try line but was judged to knocke on.

36 mins - Ibitoyes kick into space saw him chase it down before pressure from both him and Viliame Mata forced a knock on from La Rochelle

38 mins - a quick line out from the Bears became a cross kick that found Jack Bates who danced his way through the La Rochelle defense to score Bristol’s first points of the game

HT: La Rochelle 14-7 Bristol Bears

44mins: La Rochelle were disallowed a try after Thomas Teddy thought he had crossed the line but the cross cover defence from the Bears was resolute

51 mins: La Rochelle extend their lead with a try, their third try that had to be reviewed by the TMO

53mins: La Rochelle made a vital turn over after A Bristol interception by Oghre saw him pass to Jack Bates who found a charging Mata. But the La Rochelle breakdown was too much resulting in a turn over in their own 5…

57mins: Knockon by La Rochelle in the midfield saw their momentum diminish

65 mins: A penalty down field saw La Rochelle find touch. The resulting lineout ended in a set piece that saw Seuteni score for the home team.

68 mins: West collected his up and under kick, however his grubber was too strong and saw Bristol’s Ibitoye collect it behind the posts

73mins: Bristol substitute Kieran Marmion made a crucial line break from a quick tap but his pass out wide was judged to have gone forward

76mins: A guaranteed try scoring opportunity after some immaculate play by La Rochelle went to waste after an obstruction.

79 mins: Jegou Oscar was left kicking himself after knocking the ball on on the try line when La Rochelle pressured the Bears to make an errors behind their try line.

80+4mins: After getting held up in the 83rd minute, La Rochelle were awarded a try through Thomas Berjon who picked up loose ball from the back of the scrum.