Following the previous weekend's home reverse against Benetton Treviso, the last thing Viadana wanted was an away match at the league leaders, but they did, as they travelled the short distace to Parma to play Overmach.

In a high-scoring, tight contest at the Stadio XXV Aprile the Liones overcame the early season pace setters in the Italian top flight 34-30, netting a try bonus into the bargain.

Replacement scrum half Andrea Brancoli scored the match-winning try mid way through the second half after they trailed 30-24 just one minute after the break.

Viadana scored three first half tries through two of their Argentinian-born players; starting scrum half Pablo Canavosio and prop Ignacio Rouayet, and a penalty try, while Kiwi outside half Charlie Hore converted the lot and added a couple of penalties for a personal tally of 14 points.

Viadana join Overmach on 15 points from their first for games, two behind leaders Benetton, but sit in third place due to an inferior points difference.

Things weren't as good for Bayonne and Mont de Marsan in the top 14 as both sides lost away from home.

Bayonne travelled up the N124 to Dax and even though they took an early 7-0 lead from a try by captain Remy Martin and conversion by former Dax outside half Matthieu Maillard  - who also added a drop goal - they lost 27-17, conceding three tries in the opening half.

Replaclement prop Arnaud Heguy scored a try on the hour, converted by Manny Edmunds, but it was never going to be enough for AB to maintain their second place in the Top 14 table and they were duly leapfrogged by Toulouse and Perpignan, both of whom won their Round 7 matches.

Things go from bad to worse for Mont de Marsan who conceded no fewer than seven tries at fellow strugglers Brive, for whom former Saracen Andy Goode, finding form after a nightmare start to the season, kicked 18 points, in a 53-11 defeat that leaves them bottom of the table going into European competition.

Once again the one try, Benat Arrayet boot scoring pattern was followed with the outside half scoring a penalty and a drop goal, while the try came from flanker Jerome Carre. Arrayet is, paradoxically, the leading point scorer in the Top14, with 83. The paradox is not only that he plays for the bottom team, but also that les montois tell anyone that listens that they are an attacking team. We shall see! Ed

Pool 5 of the European Challenge Cup kicks off on Friday night at Stade Jean Dauger where Bayonne take on Viadana.

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