The Vodacom Bulls, DHL Stormers, and Hollywoodbets Sharks got their Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup campaigns off to encouraging starts over the weekend, as they all registered valuable victories in a jam-packed weekend of action, which was heavily overshadowed by the tragic passing of 10bet Lions lock Hyron Andrews in an emotional weekend all around.
The Vodacom Bulls laid a strong marker for the five participating domestic teams in the two competitions as they produced an impressive display to outplay Stade Francais 56-20 in Pretoria in the Investec Champions Cup, and the DHL Stormers followed suit by thumping the Bristol Bears 49-12 in Cape Town, with both teams securing bonus-point wins.
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The 10bet Lions, who opted to play their Champions Cup match against Stade Rochelais in Andrews’ honour despite Friday’s tragic news of their team-mate’s untimely death, were always going to be up against it with their emotions in tatters, and went down 31-14 in their clash against the former champions in France.
These results saw the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls top their respective pools in the Investec Champions Cup, while the 10bet Lions are yet to open their pool account.
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In the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Hollywoodbets Sharks scored a try after the final hooter against LOU Rugby for an invaluable 40-33 away victory in France on Saturday, but it was a case of heartbreak for the Toyota Cheetahs, who fought hard but still fell 29-27 short against Aviron Bayonnais on Sunday.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks find themselves in second place in their EPCR Challenge Cup pool, and the Toyota Cheetahs third.
The teams will shift their focus to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship again next weekend, as the second round of pool matches in the European competitions will only resume in December.