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| Takudzwa Ngwenya © Gallo Images |
European Cup superpowers Munster and Leicester put Italian opponents to the sword on Saturday as American winger Takudzwa Ngwenya grabbed a stunning hat-trick to steer Biarritz closer to the quarterfinals.
Double champions Munster, defeated by Northampton in their
opening Pool One clash, saw off Treviso 41-10 but only after
surviving a major scare when the Italians, who stunned French
champions Perpignan last week, took a 10-0 lead.
Australian winger Brendan Williams and England Sevens captain
Andy Vilk scored for Treviso to send shockwaves through Thomond
Park.
But Munster hit back with tries from Paul Warwick and Ian
Dowling to take a 12-10 interval lead.
The Irishmen then stretched their lead after the interval taking
their try total to seven with Denis Leamy, Denis Fogarty, David
Wallace, Ian Dowling and Jean de Villiers all crossing.
Leicester, also former double European champions, followed up
their 32-32 draw with the Ospreys with a bonus-point 46-11 victory
over Viadana in Pool Three.
Kiwi fullback Scott Hamilton grabbed a hat-trick while Johne
Murphy, Tom Croft, Lucas Amorosino and a penalty try handed the
Tigers victory.
"We have probably played better than what we have shown here,"
said Hamilton.
"But we came here for five points and that's what we have got -
we're pleased with our work.
"Viadana were really good and I was impressed by their forwards.
They carried the ball well and their big boys took a lot of
stopping."
Biarritz secured their second successive win in Pool Two with a
42-15 win over Gloucester.
The French side defeated Glasgow 22-18 in their group opener and
now have nine points to lead Newport-Gwent Dragons who saw off the
Scots 22-14 on Friday.
Ngwenya was the star of the show, sprinting 40 metres for his
spectacular first try.
Ayoola Erinle and Valentin Courrent also scored for Biarritz
with Tom Voyce and Jake Boer scoring Gloucester's two tries.
"Ngwenya is international class but he can only achieve those
exploits by giving him the right ball. It augurs well for the rest
of the season," said Biarritz manager Laurent Rodriguez.
Defending champions Leinster got the defence of their title back
on track with a 36-13 victory in Brive to bury the nightmare of
their opening Pool Six defeat at home to London Irish.
Kevin McLaughlin (2) and Rob Kearney scored tries for Leinster
with the confident boot of Jonathan Sexton contributing 19 points.
Scarlets lead the group with a second successive victory, a
tense 27-25 win at London Irish sealed by Stephen Jones's last-gasp
penalty.
Trailing 21-18 with 15 minutes to go, Samoan winger Sailosi
Tagicakibau ran in his seventh try of the season to give the Exiles
sight of victory.
But with little over a minute remaining, substitute Peter
Richards conceded a penalty in front of the posts and Jones landed
the decisive kick.
Wales flyhalf Jones was in commanding form, kicking 17 points.
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