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Eurowatch 2 December

First try for ASM
By Jason Harris
December 2 2008
With the autumn internationals over for another year in Italy, Viadana were back in action for the first time in four weeks, while in France Bayonne's titile ambitions were tested in a top-two clash away at Toulouse and Mont de Marsan needed a second league win to stay in with a chance of maintatining their Top 14 status.

In what was the weekend's biggest match in the Top 14, Aviron Bayonnais, second in the standings, travelled to Stade Ernest Wallon to take on leaders Toulouse on Friday night.

The champions ran out comfortable 32-11 winners, scoring three tries while Bayonne's solitary five pointer came six minutes from time through replacement win Benjamin Lhande with the other points coming from two Manny Edmonds penalties.

This reverse coupled to wins from Perpignan (9-6 at Montauban) and Stade Francais Paris (32-13 at a struggling Biarritz) saw Bayonne drop to fourth in the table on 37 points from their 12 games, six behind Toulouse at the top, and six ahead of fifth-placed ASM Clermont Auvergne.

An interesting fact about the table is that, just one round away from the half way point of the season, only the top four teams have winning records. Toulouse are 10-2 and the next three are 9-3.

ASM were the visitors to Stade Guy Boniface on Saturday and in what was the shock of the round, lost 12-11 to Mont de Marsan who held on to that one point lead from the 31st minute until full time.

Stade Montois scored four penalties, one from fullback Damien Cler and three, including what turned out to be the match winning effort, from outside half Yannick Lafforgue. Former Saracen Brent Russell scored the only try of the match from the left wing, his first for his new club.

Over in Italy, the Super 10 resumed after three weeks off and Montepaschi Viadana were at home to Cammi Calvisano and their 20-6 win moved them to within a point of Benetton Treviso at the top.

Flanker Lance Persico scored the only try of the match in the first minute of the second half, while Charlie Hore booted three penalties and Garry Law kicked two.

The first of Viadana's ECC back-to-back matches against Mont de Marsan will be away on Saturday afteroon with the return leg an evening kick-off on Saturday week.

Finally, a reminder to those of you unable to make the trip to the Basque country that the Bayonne v Saracens game is live only on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm on Saturday night. Unfortunately, for those without Sky, there will be no radio or online commentary.

 

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Eurowatch 2 December
Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)
Date: 02/12/2008 10:48

Eurowatch 2 December

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