Marta double helps Pau beat Leicester 41-17 in Champions Cup opener

Pau defeated Leicester Tigers 41-17 in their Champions Cup Pool One opener, with Rodrigo Marta scoring two of the French side's five tries. According to BBC Sport's match report, late scores secured a bonus-point victory after Leicester had briefly threatened to bring themselves back into contention during the second half.

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Leicester's opening exchanges offered a different picture from the eventual scoreline. Although Pau went ahead through an early penalty, the visitors used their kicking game to establish territory. Billy Searle's 50-22 created the position from which captain Ollie Chessum scored. The forward was making his first appearance of the season following his recovery from a foot injury.

The hosts then took control through a sequence of three tries spanning the interval. Sacha Zegueur had an effort disallowed for a knock-on before Marta and prop Zabala scored before the break, giving Pau a 17-10 half-time advantage. Marta added his second after the restart, running in from 30 metres to increase the gap and leave Leicester chasing the match.

Marta's contribution extended a productive run for the Portugal international. BBC Sport reported that he entered the European fixture as this season's leading Top 14 try-scorer, with six tries in five appearances. His two scores against Leicester were central to the passage of play that shifted the match away from the visitors after their encouraging start.

Archie van der Flier gave the Tigers a route back into the contest by forcing his way over in the corner. That brought Leicester within seven points, but they could not build on the score. Pau instead registered the final 17 points, denying the visitors a losing bonus point as well as securing their own additional reward.

Axel Desperes kicked another penalty before Theo Attissogbe supplied Aaron Grandidier Nkanang for a try in the corner. Fabien Brau-Boirie then intercepted a Leicester pass to add Pau's fifth try. Desperes finished with five conversions and two penalties, while Searle contributed both Leicester conversions and a penalty.

Leicester's remaining Pool One opponents are Clermont Auvergne, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster. Their campaign therefore continues with no points from this opening match, despite tries from Chessum and Van der Flier, while Pau begin with a bonus-point win.