Biarritz keep hopes alive
Biarritz kept alive their hopes of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a 25-16 victory over Viadana.
Last Updated: 18/01/08 10:16pm
Biarritz kept alive their hopes of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a 25-16 victory over Viadana.
The French side ran in four tries to pick up a bonus-point win that sees them finish second behind Saracens in Pool Four with a total of 18 points.
That means they could still make the last eight as one of the two best runners up from the six Pools, but are relying on results to go their way on Saturday and Sunday.
Viadana came into the match having lost all five of their previous fixtures in this year's Heineken Cup, but a trio of penalties from fly-half Calvin Howarth saw them reach half-time at the Parc de Sports Aguilera just 10-9 behind.
The Italians had led for most of the first half until Biarritz winger Takudzwa Ngwenya crossed for the game's opening try in the 36th minute, which was converted by Marcelo Bosch to go with his 28th-minute penalty.
After the interval American international Ngenwya scored his second try to extend Biarritz's lead to 15-9.
And further scores from No.8 Jacques Cronje and lock Manuel Carizza in the last 10 minutes secured the all-important bonus point.
Viadana reduced the final deficit to nine points with a late converted try from Howarth.
