Pau got off the mark in Pool 2 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup with a 21-15 victory over Stade Francais Paris.

Pau’s victory was built on a dominant first half display which saw the home side establish a 15-3 interval lead.

https://twitter.com/SectionPaloise/status/1053626451478659072

Pau’s Antoine Hastoy and Stade Francais’ Jules Plisson exchanged early penalties before the home side took charge from the half-hour mark.

First, scrum-half Julien Blanc crossed for the opening try and a decisive moment came four minutes from the break when the home side were awarded a penalty try. Blanc then converted to give Pau a 12-point half-time advantage.

Five minutes into the second period, Hastoy added another penalty to pile the pressure on the visitors but they gave themselves hope when winger Jimmy Yobo crossed for Stade Francais’ first try.

https://twitter.com/SFParisRugby/status/1053638701748838400

Hastoy landed his third penalty just after the hour mark to make it 21-8 but the visitors kept going right to the end when substitute Piet van Zyl crossed for their second try and Morne Steyn’s conversion completed the scoring.

Pau will host Worcester Warriors in Round 3 while Stade travel to face Ospreys.