European Rugby Challenge Cup: Worcester battle past Stade Francais

Wynand Olivier made his return from injury from the bench after just three minutes

Worcester Warriors ran in five tries for an impressive win against Stade Francais in their Challenge Cup opener.

Having made 15 changes from the side that beat Bristol in the Premiership, after loose forward Matt Cox's early opener, winger Tom Howe's two tries gave Warriors a 24-13 half-time lead.

Flanker Ted Hill scored the fourth after the break to earn a bonus point.

Laurent Panis crossed as the home side piled on pressure, before Jamie Shillcock's try made sure of victory.

The hosts still had time to score their third try through Piet van Zyl, but the 11-point deficit was too much to claw back.

Stade Francais, who also brought several new players into their starting XV at the Stade Jean Bouin, are second in France's Top 14 table. However, they were ultimately outclassed by their English opponents.

Worcester had injured centre Ashley Beck stretchered off in only the third minute, replaced by South African Wynand Olivier, who returned after almost a year out of the game himself with a serious hamstring injury.

Warriors now host Ospreys this Saturday before another trip to France, to the Pyrenees, to meet Pau when the competition restarts on 7 December.

Stade Francais: Hamdaourigh; Etien, Delbouis, Danty, Camara; Plisson, Daguin; El Ansari, Sempere (capt), Herrera, Gabrillagues, Flanquart, Di Giovanni, Chapuis, Macalou.

Replacements: Fickou for D Camara (42), van Zyl for Daguin (49), Panis for Sempere (49), Maestri for Flanquart (49), Steyn for Plisson (61), Richard for De Giovanni (72).

Not Used: Fisiihoi, P Alo-Emile.

Worcester Warriors: Humphreys; Hammond, Lawrence, Beck, Howe; Lance (capt), Heaney; Waller, Annett, Kerrod, Kitchener, Phillips, Hill, Williams, Cox.

Replacements: Olivier for Beck (3), Taufete'e for Annett (41), Milasinovich for Kerrod (54), Dodd for Williams (63), Owen for Waller (65), Shillcock for Howe (68), Baldwin for Heaney (72), Clegg for Kitchener (78).

Referee: Daniel Jones (Wales).