It was certainly a far cry from last weeks drama at Welford road and one which would have the Welford Road ‘Rugs' if not the purists clamouring for their  ear plugs.

Situated about 20 miles north of Parma with no recognisable public transport system of any description, I had wondered long and hard about how to make the trip. In the end a combination of indecision and work commitments saw me do this as a ‘Day trip'. Never once have I questioned my own sanity in 35 years of watching Tigers which probably proves I am mad but when the alarm went off at 3.30am Saturday morning to ensure getting the 7.10 flight from Stanstead to Bologna, not once did I question what I was doing.

Arriving at Bologna was only the start. I had explored many options to get from the airport to Viadana. The excellent arrangements of the away support guys to lay on coaches from Parma station seemed a very really possibility until I worked out getting to Parma for 12.15 would be difficult and getting back to the airport for the 8.10pm return flight a near impossibility. So it was Hertz's best for me. Italian Roads and all !!

I am sure Messers Cockerill and O'Conner spend hours on preparation, so like them I had my maps, routes and plans and even included the 'Never Lost' sat nav with the car. Its easy .....out of the airport onto the Motorway go straight for 60 miles signposted Milan then turn right for the last 20 miles north to Viadana. As we know Plans are good but execution on the day is everything!

 I am still not sure if  was the first roundabout at the airport or the second where it went wrong! Anyway 40 miles later no sign of the Autostrada and every Saturday market between Bologna and nowhere, clogging the route,  I had ample supplies of Cheese, Ham and bread but no idea where Viadana was.  

I needed a time out to regroup and replan. Now convinced that my ‘Never Lost' Sat nav friend had an entirely different agenda to mine which did not involve anything to do with Rugby or Viadana and mostly consisted of how many time it could say "recalculating route"  I retraced the last 20 miles or so ane eventually found the Motorway. Great only 56 miles to go... but its quarter to one and the game starts at 1.30 ! Is that UK time or local time... arrghhhh lets not start that thread again haven't  we done that one to death this last week.

Eventually signs to Viadana, then a bridge over the River Pau, I remember that from Google Earth, yes were getting close. The rural nature of the surroundings was changing slightly signs of life and habitation, turn left onto Via John Fitzgerald Kennedy, how Italian is that the ground must be along here, yes floodlights in the distance this must be it.

2 ½ Hours after leaving the airport were here and Its 2.00pm and no sign of kick off so I can confirm kick off is  2.30 local time phew !!!

Finally with time to relax a bit the Sun is warm and the hospitality good, most  of the pre match activity is centred on a compact area near the entrance, the atmosphere is friendly and choices are good, sausages and chestnuts roast together on Barbecue's, as you would expect there are Parma ham cobs in abundance !

So to the match, how many have we lost on the way this week, should I have brought my boots ? ..all of these now familiar questions go through my mind. Look there's Ben Pinnear he's changed and warming up  but why ? he wasn't in the 23 announced yesterday.  Panic not its just cover, a quick roll call in the warm up and we are all accounted for.

Kick off and Tigers attacking the ‘new stand' end first are soon pushing forward. There's some big guys in the Viadana side, backs and forwards alike all broad, muscley men putting in some hard hits early on. One of our first incursions into their 22 and Penalty Leicester. Staunton restored to kicking duties slots this one to get us on the board.

The early exchanges are scrappy we are looking to put pace on the ball and clear the breakdown quickly, Viadana are hitting the rucks hard. A lovely positional kick from Staunton gives us a line out left field on their 22. Clean ball off the top from Croft and as Grindle moves sideways the ball whips down the line, Allen is over the gain line and clean passing down the line Jonnie M has the overlap to score in the right corner. A really good try from first phase. The conversion is missed but 8 - nil after 10 minutes and that looks good.

I'm sure not at what point after that Tigers starting to take their directions from my never lost ‘Sat Nav' but for  20 minutes they lost their way. Viadans's big lads lead in the forwards by the youngest of the ‘Quinell' dynasty and marshalled by Hola at 10 brought the home side into the game with a Penalty.  8 -3 Tigers Our Billy had a mad 10 minutes when everything he did resulted in a penalty. Then as some bullocking rucking was held up down the left Hola put a lovely cross field kick to the right wing. Amorosino was out jumped on the 10 metre wide out right by Kaine Robertson who sprinted down the right touchline for the line, the despairing cover of Scott Hamilton was not enough and it was 8 -8.

Time to regroup Tigers hadn't seen much of the ball for since the first 10 minutes but a series of tight drives and controlled possession saw us back into the Viadana half. Castro was building the pressure and with the ever mobile Parling in support we were punching holes in the Viadana midfield. Grindle broke through the back row cover centre field and after a half tackle was clear, with Allen on his right should he looked left and popped the ball to Scott Hamilton whos  lovely support line saw him clear under the posts. Nice try again with combination of backs and forwards. Coversion made 15 -8. If we could get another score before half time that would be good.

More pressure in centerfield  and Anthony Allen  passed to Billy 12T into the 22, if it goes right now we have an overlap but Grindle comes back left there's not much room down the left but with some great hands from the backs the ball gets to that renowned left winger Tom Croft who from 5 metres smashes down the remaining defence and stretches for the line. Try Number 3 and with the conversion from Jeremy its 22 -8 at half time.

What was the direction for this match ? from the coaches,  we want 3 things, 1) win the match, 2)score 4 tries and 3) don't get hurt.

So far so good nothing too spectacular but against some tough and determined Viadana play we are on course.

The second half saw Viadana controlling most of the possession and quite a bit of territory. For almost the first 20 minutes we got no good continuity or possession. Hola slotted another Penalty to make it 22 -11 Tigers but with both sides happy to play loose the game had no real shape. Bad news soon after Staunton took a nasty knock to his Shin and was in some pain. He played on for a while but limped off to be replaced by Matt Smith. Billy the forest moved to Fly half with Smith and Allen in the centres

The backs looked sharp and with Hamilton directing everything from full back we had several inventive moves with both wingers Murphy and Amorosino cutting infield. Moody was starting to control things at the breakdown, although at one point he got buried at the bottom of a ruck and looked decidedly unsteady on his feet when he surfaced. From an midfield maul first croft then crane took the ball up between 10 metre and 22 and when Hamilton cut the line from full back to take the ball at pace the cover was gone.  27 -11 and with the bonus point that should be game won as well.

Bizarrely the next score came our way but against the run of play. After a concerted series of drives and penalties Viadana put us under great pressure but as the ball went loose, smith hacked clear upfield the race was on and when the Viadana full back failed to gather the loose ball Lucas picked up to run in under the posts. This lad has pace and a lovely side step but a most unusual running style. His head seems to sway from side to side as he runs, the faster he goes the more his head sways ! Anyway Billy slotted the conversion and its 11 -22.

Viadana never gave up and came back strongly, Deacon had gone off with what looked like a damaged shoulder and Blaze lept high at a 5 metre line out to steal Viadana ball to clear our lines. Good defence but the home side came back and were unlucky when Jordan Crane was spotted pulling back the Viadana support off the ball. Crane went to the Bin but the penalty was missed.

We had several  near scoring chances from a couple of fly hack clearances. With Viadana on the attack the ball was cleared up the left touch line and some neat interpassing between, Smith and Allen, Murphy knocked on with a clear run to the line. Duffy came on for Chutes who had a sound game throughout. With Whitey and Marcus now propping and the Viadana forwards tiring the set piece got stronger.

The sixth try and Hamilton's hat trick was from another drive in midfield which saw quick ball go left and some lovely hands. Scott ran some fantastic lines all afternoon and when he took the ball on the overlap he still had Murphy outside him, he didn't need him and score a well deserved 3^rd to round off a fine display.

With Billy now drop kicking the conversion attempts to save time there was another score to come.

This time Crane went clear down the left and kicked ahead Amorosino chased down the defence and forced a 5 meter scrum . From a series of sets/resets and penalties, whitey did his stuff and the ref awarded a penalty try.

Final Score 46 -11

Solid if not spectacular this match delivered everything we needed a win 7 tries and relief that a very difficult start to the Heineken has gone as well as we could expect.

I love the Italians, their enthusiasm for the game their support of good play. The crowd is friendly and knowledgeable, they know how to entertain, they are superb hosts and generous in defeat. This team are definitely one to watch, they join the Magner's next season and will by this showing enhance the competition.

Now all that remains is to try and find the Autostrade and the airport for the flight home, where did I park the car ?.........

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