In a high-scoring Investec Champions Cup clash, Castres Olympique defeated the Vodacom Bulls with a commanding 49-10 victory at home.
The match saw Castres take control in the second half, scoring six tries to seal a decisive win.
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The Vodacom Bulls struck first with a try by Jan-Hendrik Wessels in the sixth minute, converted by Boeta Chamberlain, giving them an early 7-0 lead.
Castres quickly responded, with Geoffrey Palis crossing for a try in the 17th minute. Jeremy Fernandez added the conversion, leveling the score at 7-7.
A penalty goal by Fernandez in the 31st minute gave Castres a narrow 10-7 lead going into halftime.
Castres Takes Command In Second Half
The second half began with a penalty goal by Fernandez to extend Castres' lead to 13-7.
Despite a brief Bulls comeback via a Jaco van der Walt penalty in the 53rd minute, Castres dominated the remaining play.
A series of tries by Julien Dumora, Rémy Baget (three tries in total) and Jack Goodhue, accompanied by successful conversions from Pierre Popelin and Fernandez, widened the gap.
Baget’s standout performance included a hat trick, with his final try in the 78th minute securing Castres' triumph.
Bulls Struggle Against Castres' Offensive Onslaught
The Vodacom Bulls struggled to regain momentum as Castres relentlessly pressured their defense.
By the final whistle, Castres had outscored the Bulls seven tries to one, leaving no doubt about their dominance.
With this impressive performance, Castres sets a strong tone for its Champions Cup campaign. The Bulls, meanwhile, will look to regroup before their next match.