Challenge Cup - Round 1 Reports
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Worcester launch Challenge Cup campaign with bonus point win
Worcester Warriors got their Challenge Cup campaign off to the perfect start after a commanding 57-14 success over Enisei-STM in Krasnodar.
Tries in the first period from Richard Palframan, Nick David, Jamie Shillcock, Jono Kitto and Oli Morris gave them the first bonus point of the season as Enisei struggled to reply with any real attacking threat.
Edinburgh celebrate late bonus-point win
Hooker Cameron Fenton’s last gasp try helped Edinburgh open up their Pool 3 campaign with a resounding 31-10 bonus-point success over Agen in France.
The Scots initially trailed to fly-half Thomas Vincent’s early penalty but gradually started to take control.
Van der Merwe unlikely Toulon hero as Bayonne downed
Two tries in four first half minutes by South African prop Marcel van der Merwe helped Toulon to a 20-13 win at Bayonne in Pool 2 of the Challenge Cup.
The visitors had trailed 3-0 to an early penalty from Bayonne fly-half Manuel Ordas and it stayed that way for much of a hard-fought opening half.
Strong first half effort good enough to secure Brive triumph
Brive effectively had this Pool 4 clash won by half-time as they eventually saw off the challenge of Stade Francais 27-11.
The sides exchanged early penalties with Joris Segonds on the mark for the home side and Tedo Abzhandadze responding for Brive.
Cardiff Blues off to a flyer at Calvisano
Cardiff Blues bagged a bonus-point win in north-west Italy over Rugby Calvisano to kickstart their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign in handsome fashion.
Blues, winners of this trophy in 2018, have now won their last seven games in the competition and will head into next Saturday’s clash against Leicester Tigers at the Arms Park in buoyant mood
Leicester Tigers claim first ever Challenge Cup win
Four tries from Welsh winger Jonah Holmes propelled Leicester Tigers to a 41-20 victory over Pau at Welford Road in their first ever European Rugby Challenge Cup encounter.
After an early exchange of penalties by George Ford and Tom Taylor, Leicester took a grip through a 13th-minute try from George Worth, who had only been on the field a few minutes after replacing the injured Sam Aspland-Robinson
Basham hat-trick sets up Dragons victory over Castres
A first-half hat-trick by Taine Basham ignited a fine 31-17 win for Dragons in their opening European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 1 clash against Castres Olympique.
The Welsh side’s bonus point was secured before the interval after three tries by the 20-year-old number eight and another try by Dafydd Howells following an interception.
Lloyd’s haul gives Bristol Bears flying start in Pool 4
Ioan Lloyd scored a try, a penalty and seven conversions on his first start for Bristol Bears as they saw off Zebre Rugby comprehensively 59-21 in their opening match in Pool 4 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Lloyd’s 22-point haul was the highlight of an afternoon which began with Zebre taking the lead after Mattia Bellini pounced on a loose ball. But the hosts responded with a flurry of tries.
