Six-try Stormers remain unbeaten after dispatching La Rochelle in Gqeberha

THE Stormers kept their red-hot start to the season rolling, scoring six tries in a bonus-point 42-21 win over La Rochelle in Gqeberha, yesterday to stay unbeaten in the Champions Cup.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

With pace, power and plenty of attacking swagger for most of the clash, the Cape side brushed aside the French giants and sent another strong early-season statement to the rest of the competition.

The home side, unbeaten for eight games in all competitions, burst out of the blocks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, racing into an early lead with two quickfire tries in the first 10 minutes as both wingers crossed the whitewash, courtesy of the inform flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

The first came after sustained early pressure on the visitors inside the opening two minutes.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu spotted space out wide and delivered a deft crossfield kick for speedster Dylan Maart, who gathered cleanly and dived over in the corner. Five minutes later, the Stormers struck again on the opposite flank.

Left winger Leolin Zas ran onto a beautifully timed pass from his No 10, brushed off a would-be tackler and powered over to make it 10-0 inside the opening exchanges.