Biarritz 34 Aironi 3: BIARRITZ GAINED revenge over Aironi Rugby last night with a convincing bonus-point victory in their return match at Parc des Sports Aguilera.
The French club, runners-up in the competition last year, suffered a surprise 28-27 defeat to the Italian side at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella six days ago to open up Pool Four.
But a repeat never looked on the cards as a 10th-minute try from centre Marcelo Bosch and a penalty try 12 minutes later – both converted by France scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili, who also kicked two penalties – saw the hosts storm into a 20-0 half-time lead.
Wing Taku Ngwenya and hooker Benoit August also crossed for tries after the interval, with Yachvili adding the extras.
Aironi outhalf Riccardo Bocchino at least got his team on the scoresheet with a penalty on the hour.
BIARRITZ: Haylett-Petty; Ngwenya, Bosch, Traille, Balshaw; Peyrelongue, Yachvili; Watremez, August, Johnstone, Thion, E Lund, M Lund, Vahafolau, Harinordoquy. Replacements: Guinazu for Watremez, Taele-Pvihi for Thion (both 51 mins); Tranier for Peyrelongue, Terrain for August (both 64 mins); Bolakoro for Balshaw, Lauret for Harinordoquy (both 67 mins); Mignardi for Bosch (72 mins).
AIRONI RUGBY: Laharrague; Toniolatti, Pratichetti, Pizarro, Rubini; Bocchino, Canavosio; Perugini, Ferraro, Staibano, Bortolami, Geldenhuys, Liebenberg, Favaro, Erasmus. Replacements: Santamaria for Ferraro, Gamboa for Staibano, Krause for Liebenberg (all 53 mins); Venditti for Toniolatti, Wilson for Canavosio (both 64 mins); Marshall for Laharrague (70 mins).
Referee: Andrew Small (RFU).
