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Perpignan will be aiming to maintain their winning start to the Amlin Challenge Cup when they host Bizkaia Gernika RT in Pool 2. - 19/10/2012 11:00
Perpignan will be aiming to maintain their winning start to the Amlin Challenge Cup when they host Bizkaia Gernika RT in Pool 2.
The Catalan giants claimed an emphatic 79-12 victory over Femi CZ VEA Rovigo last weekend, running in 10 tries to record their biggest win in European club competition.
And they will be targeting another record-breaking, maximum points haul against Spanish new-boys Gernika, who crashed to a 85-5 defeat against Worcester Warriors.
Both Perpignan and Worcester will be aiming to put as many points on the board as possible before their crucial December double-header.
Perpignan have never won a piece of European silverware but are regular competitors in the knock-out stages of both the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups.
Veteran prop, and captain, Nicolas Mas is set to return to action in the clash against the Basque club while Richard Haughton and Henry Tuilagi are expected to shake off injuries picked up against Rovigo.
Gernika will be desperate to restore some pride following the harsh lesson handed out by Worcester but are set for another tough day at the Stade Aimé Giral.
Perpignan have the Pool 2 edge but they cannot afford any complacency when they meet Femi-CZ VEA Rovigo at Stade Aimé Giral on Thursday night. - 15/01/2013 20:40
Wing Adrien Plante gave a five-star display as he scored a handful of tries in front of the Stade Aime Giral faithful to help Perpignan to a 90-12 victory over Bizkaia Gernika.
The comprehensive win sends the Catalan giants soaring clear at the top of Pool 2 with their second maximum points haul following a similar rout on the road against Rovigo.
Perpignan, who finished with 14 tries, had the try bonus point safely banked after just 18 whirlwind minutes, Plante getting a brace and centre Gavin Hume and flanker Bertrand Guiry the others as the Spaniards were sent spinning.
But they restricted the former Heineken Cup finalists to one more first-half try, wing Farid Sid crossing, with outside-half Declan Cusack on target with four penalty goals to punish Perpignan indiscipline.
But two tries from full back Joffrey Michel in just four minutes saw Perpignan racing away and they comfortably sailed past the half century of points with further tries from Maxime Delonca, Hume, Guillaume Vilaceca and Plante as they rattled up 57 second-half points without reply.
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