Roche and Zas doubles power Stormers past Bristol 49-12

Stormers began their Champions Cup pool campaign with a 49-12 home win over Bristol Bears on Saturday, scoring seven tries despite spending part of the match with fewer players. Jonathan Roche and Leolin Zas each scored twice, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted every try, according to match reports from BBC Sport and Ultimate Rugby.

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Seabelo Senatla supplied the early attacking breakthrough at DHL Stadium, scoring the opening try and then helping create the second for Zas. Feinberg-Mngomezulu's conversions established a 14-0 advantage before Bristol replied through Joe Owen. The visitors had reduced the gap, but their first score did not lead to a sustained comeback before the interval.

Ultimate Rugby reported that Roche finished a move involving Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse to restore the hosts' cushion. Stormers reached half-time leading 21-7, with three converted tries against Bristol's one. Roche's first score gave the home side room to absorb a difficult spell that followed disciplinary sanctions against two of their players.

BBC Sport reported that hooker JJ Kotze received a 20-minute red card before half-time for head-to-head contact while tackling Bristol captain Kieran Marmion. Zas was subsequently sin-binned for a high tackle, leaving Stormers temporarily down to 13. Bristol applied pressure around the interval and eventually scored through Sol Moody, who emerged from a maul to touch down.

That reduced the deficit to 21-12, but Roche soon claimed his second try after two Bristol players collided while trying to gather a high kick. He collected the loose ball and scored, ending the visitors' brief revival. Feinberg-Mngomezulu added the conversion to move Stormers into a 28-12 lead before the hosts extended their advantage further.

Replacements Warrick Gelant and Andre-Hugo Venter both crossed late on, and Zas added his second try as Stormers completed the seven-try victory. Bristol now turn towards a home meeting with Munster on 12 December in their next Champions Cup fixture. BBC Sport reported that their remaining pool matches are against Racing 92 and Bordeaux in January.