Stade stroll past Leeds
Stade Francais eased into the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive 39-10 victory over Leeds Carnegie.
Last Updated: 16/01/11 8:43pm
Stade Francais eased into the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive 39-10 victory over Leeds Carnegie that ended the English outfit's European ambitions for the season.
Leeds headed into the match knowing they faced the daunting prospect of having to beat the French giants on their own patch to maintain their hopes of reaching the next round.
But that never looked likely as Stade produced a clinical performance with tries from Hugo Southwell, Olly Phillips, Rodrigo Roncero, Pierre Rabadan and Julien Arias.
All that the visitors had to show for their efforts Leeds was a Ceiron Thomas penalty and a Dan Browne converted try.
Leeds were on the board first as Thomas slotted his penalty after just two minutes, but that was the only time they were in the lead.
Two players sin-binned
Stade hit back with two penalties from the boot of Lionel Beauxis, the second after Steve Thompson was sent to the sin-bin.
Phil Nilsen came on to take over hooking duties but he was also shown a yellow card and Leeds spent several minutes down to 13 men.
Stade made their numerical advantage pay on 32 minutes with a try from Scotland international Southwell, which Beauxis converted before Thompson returned to action.
Things then got worse for the visitors when Phillips capitalised on a lucky bounce to score, although Beauxis failed with the conversion as the teams headed in at the break with Stade leading 18-3.
The hosts continued to pressure Leeds after the break and extended their advantage when Roncero barged his way over.
They clinched a bonus point when Rabadan touched down and, although Leeds hit back through Browne minutes later with Thomas converting, Arias grabbed Stade's fifth try to compound Leeds' woes.
