Biarritz edge out Calvisano
Biarritz recorded just their second Heineken Cup win of the season with a hard-fought 23-15 win over Calvisano in Italy.
Last Updated: 18/01/09 12:21am
Biarritz recorded just their second Heineken Cup win of the season with a hard-fought 23-15 win over Calvisano in Italy.
The French side grabbed a pair of tries in the second half to secure a rare success in Europe and mean their opponents are still yet to get off the mark in Pool Six.
Calvisano had led 12-9 at the break after a turgid first half at the Centro Sportivo San Michele had been dominated by penalty attempts.
Gerard Fraser's fourth kick deep into injury time gave the hosts a narrow lead at the break with the fly-half contributing all their points.
In reply Biarritz managed three penalties from the boot of Dimitri Yachvili, though the scum-half did miss his first attempt having seen Calvisano go 6-0 ahead.
Crucial lead
It took the visitors until just two minutes into the second half to forge into a lead that they would refuse to surrender.
Lock Cesar Damiani forced his way over to get the opening try of the game with Yachvili adding the conversion to make it 16-12 in Biarritz's favour.
Although the home team did get within a point thanks to a drop goal from Fraser, their hopes of earning a first point in a difficult European campaign were soon dashed.
Prop Benoit August crossed for a second score just after the hour mark and with the conversion also added it was now an eight-point gap.
Calvisano did have a chance to get down below seven to get a losing bonus, but substitute centre Nanni Raineri was off target with a penalty attempt deep into stoppage time.
