Aironi ensured it was a weekend to remember for the Italian teams in the RaboDirect PRO12 with a 25-19 win over Edinburgh.
Having seen Treviso triumph away to Glasgow on Friday night, Aironi followed in their footsteps by getting one over Scottish opposition.
The Italians began brightly and minutes after Ruggero Trevisan's long-range drop-goal attempt fell short, they took the lead through a try to Naas Olivier straight from a line-out.
Edinburgh responded halfway through the first half with a Greig Laidlaw penalty from deep inside Aironi territory to make it 7-3 and three minutes later they took the lead.
The ball was shipped from one wing to the other, creating the space for Kyle Traynor to smash his way over. Laidlaw's conversion drifted wide.
But it was Aironi that would hold the lead at half-time. Tito Tebaldi was the benefactor this time following another passing move straight from the line-out. Olivier hit the post with the conversion but his side held a 12-8 lead at the interval.
The Italians extended their lead early in the second-half and it was that man Olivier who was once again at the centre of things.
The South African broke through midfield before finding Nick Williams, who steamed over. Olivier's conversion made it 19-8 to Aironi.
Edinburgh narrowed the deficit on 51 minutes through a Harry Leonard penalty and barely a minute later a break by Lee Jones led to a try for Tim Visser. The conversion was missed but Aironi's lead was down to three.
A penalty and drop goal from Olivier gave the home side a little breathing space and although Leonard took Edinburgh back within six with his second penalty of the match minutes later, Aironi were able to hold on for their first victory of the campaign.
The scorers:
For Aironi:
Tries: Olivier, Tebaldi, Williams
Cons: Olivier 2
Pens: Olivier
Drops: Olivier
For Edinburgh:
Tries: Traynor, Visser
Pens: Laidlaw, Leonard 2
Aironi: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 Sinoti Sinoti, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Nicola Cattina, 6 Frans Viljoen; 5 George Biagi, 4 Joshua Furno; 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Roberto Santamaria (cap), 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 Josh Sole, 20 Simone Favaro, 21 Tyson Keats, 22 Alberto Benettin, 23 Riccardo Pavan. All. Rowland Philllips.
Edinburgh: 15 Tom Brown, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Jim Thompson, 12 James King, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Gregor Hunter, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Stuart McInally, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 David Denton, 5 Steven Turnbull, 4 Sean Cox, 3 Shaun Knight, 2 Steven Lawrie, 1 Kyle Traynor.
Replacements: 16 Alun Walker, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Lewis Niven, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Chris Leck, 22 Harry Leonard, 23 Matt Scott.
Referee: Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)
Comments
Lucasrg says...
well done Aironi!
Posted 10:02 27th September 2011
leinster_goy says...
woohoo, go aironi
Posted 16:38 24th September 2011