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- Stade Francais downs La Rochelle
Stade Francais downs La Rochelle
After losing its opening game of the Top 14 season, Stade Francais bounced back in style against La Rochelle.
Stade Francais laid down a marker in Sunday's (AEST) impressive 35-24 win over last season's Top 14 table-topper La Rochelle.
The European Challenge Cup winner, which finished seventh last term, produced a stunning first-half display and held off a fightback from the visitors to put aside the disappointment of its opening-game loss to Lyon.
Greg Cooper's side was irresistible in the first 40 minutes, leaving La Rochelle to nurse a 30-7 half-time deficit as the great Sergio Parisse dotted down after Antoine Burban, Alexandre Flanquart, and Tony Ensor had crossed the whitewash.
La Rochelle, a winner over Brive in its season opener, proved a greater threat after the interval, but Afa Amosa's five-pointer and a late penalty try, adding to Dany Priso's first-half score, were not enough to forge a route back into the contest, with Marvin O'Connor responding for the hosts.
Newly promoted Agen got its first win of the season as Racing Metro succumbed to a 23-19 loss, while Castres overcame Bordeaux-Begles 33-19.
Elsewhere, Lyon downed Brive 29-14, Montpellier clocked up 21 unanswered second-half points to thrash Oyonnax 37-6, and Pau remains pointless after a 23-19 defeat to Toulouse.