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Bizkaia Gernika RT will take their Amlin Challenge Cup bow against Worcester Warriors on Saturday. - 11/10/2012 12:43
Bizkaia Gernika RT will take their Amlin Challenge Cup bow against Worcester Warriors on Saturday.
The Spanish champions have never competed in European competition but remain unbeaten in the national league – with five wins from five.
There is sure to be a festival of colour in the Basque town, which was written into history during the Spanish Civil War and encapsulated in Picasso’s famous painting.
Worcester have not enjoyed such a bright start to the season, with just one win from six matches in the English Premiership, but will be over whelming favourites.
They were runners-up in the competition in 2008, losing to Bath in the final, and boast a wealth of international and European experience.
Former England international Andy Goode has twice won the Heineken Cup with Leicester Tigers, while both Neil Best and Ceri Jones have previously clinched the Amlin Challenge Cup.
Pour sa dernière rencontre européenne de la saison
Worcester Warriors scored a club record 13 Amlin Challenge Cup tries as they blitzed Spanish champions Bizkaia Gernika 85-5 at Urbieta Rugby Sport Centre.
It turned into a European debut to forget for the home side with wing Toto Mazzochi providing their sole moment of joy with a try after an hour.
But otherwise it was a Warriors try fest with replacement Max Stelling stealing the limelight with a try hat-trick that took just six minutes in the closing stages with the Spaniards out on their feet.
The points and try avalanche easily beat the club’s old marks of 68 points and 10 tries as the Premiership club ran riot.
Worcester, tournament finalists in 2008, may expect tougher days at the office when they clash with Perpignan in the back-to-back ties in Rounds 3 and 4 but this was simply one-way traffic.
While Stelling stepped in with his late hat-trick, wing Andy Short and scrum half Paul Hodgson had each earlier claimed a brace with outside-half Joe Carlisle posting 25 points with a try and 10 conversions.
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