Bayonne edge out Wasps
Wasps surrendered their unbeaten Amlin Challenge Cup record as they suffered a 19-11 defeat to Bayonne.
Last Updated: 10/12/11 10:16pm
Wasps surrendered their unbeaten record in this season's Amlin Challenge Cup as they suffered a 19-11 defeat to revitalised Bayonne in an explosive top-of-the-table clash in Pool Three.
Bayonne, who sacked their coaching staff and appointed former Japan coach Jean-Pierre Elissalde earlier this week, were desperate to get their season back on track after a poor start to their domestic and European campaign.
Bayonne clearly had the words of their new coach ringing in their ears in the opening exchanges as they tore into the visitors at Stade Jean Dauger.
Yoann Huget's try gave the home side a 13-6 lead at half-time but one break in the first half by former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko, who joined the French side in the summer, had the home crowd on their feet.
Wasps, who won this competition in 2003, had Riki Flutey and Nicky Robinson both sin-binned and trying to contain Bayonne with 14 men for 20 minutes proved too much for the English side.
Round-up
Stade Francais, last season's beaten finalists, ran riot to keep their position as leaders of Pool One with a comfortable 57-0 victory over Italian side Crociati in Parma on Saturday afternoon.
The French side secured a bonus point and crossed for nine tries by Morgan Turinui, Julien Arias, Sergio Parisse, Antoine Durban, Djibril Camara, with Alexander Rokobaro grabbing a hat-trick.
Brive, who won the Heineken Cup in 1997, kept up their impressive unbeaten start to their European campaign in Pool Five with a 47-18 victory away to CR La Vila in Spain.
Wing Jacques Boussuge grabbed a hat-trick in Brive's seven-try rout of the reigning Spanish champions, but the hosts did manage tries by Marcos Poggi and Juan Manuel Quirante.
Bordeaux-Begles, one of the great rugby areas of France, claimed their first victory back in Europe with a bonus-point 31-7 win in over Italian side Rugby Rovigo.
Vungakoto Lilo, Manu Saubuisse, Francois Tisseau and Camille Lopez all crossed for tries as the French side took charge of the contest and dominated the Italians in a one-sided second half.
French rugby's new boys in the Top 14, Lyon, recorded the first victory of their European campaign with a comfortable 31-16 success in Pool Two over Italians Petrarca Padova.
