Champions Cup: Pau 41-17 Leicester Tigers – hosts achieve bonus level in pool victory

Investec Champions Cup

Pau (17) 41

Tries: Marta 2, Zabala, Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie Cons: Desperes 5 Pens: Desperes 2

Leicester Tigers (10) 17

Tries: Chessum, Van der Flier Cons: Searle 2 Pen: Searle

Leicester Tigers started their Champions Cup marketing campaign with a 41-17 defeat by French membership Pau.

Portugal transnational Rodrigo Marta crossed for 2 of the house facet’s 5 tries, with a late burst serving to them earn a bonus level from their Pool One opener.

Despite falling behind to an early Pau penalty, Leicester did nicely within the early exchanges, their tactical kicking sport maintaining them camped of their opponents’ territory.

Billy Searle’s 50-22 put the Tigers in very good subject place they usually capitalised by means of captain Ollie Chessum, who was making his first look of the season after recovering from a foot damage.

Pau fought again nicely, nevertheless, displaying their high quality with three tries in a 20-minute spell both facet of half-time.

They had already seen a Sacha Zegueur strive dominated out for a knock-on earlier than Marta, the main try-scorer on this season’s Top 14 with six in 5 appearances, and prop Jon Zebala touched down late within the first half.

Centre Marta raced in once more from 30 metres to increase Pau’s lead after the interval.

Archie van der Flier powered over within the nook to maneuver Leicester again inside seven factors, however that will be the ultimate time Leicester could be inside vary of a shedding bonus level, as Pau scored 17 factors with out reply.

Fly-half Axel Desperes added an additional penalty, Theo Attissogbe despatched winger Aaron Grandidier Nkanang over unchallenged within the nook and Fabien Brau-Boirie intercepted a Leicester move to finish the scoring.

Leicester’s remaining Pool One matches are towards Clermont Auvergne, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster.