Amatori defeat Neath

Amatori & Calvisano 38, Neath 29 (full-time)

Neath handed Amatori & Calvisano their first ever win in European rugby with a shocking second-half performance in the Heineken Cup Pool 1 clash at the tiny Centro Sportivo ground.

Young Amatori outside-half Vincenzo Zullo bagged 18 points in a superb display of goal-kicking, with full-back Massimo Ravazzalo showing the Neath defence a clean pair of heels in scoring two tries.

Prolific Neath points-scorer Lee Jarvis opened the scoring with a penalty goal, but the visitors were rocked after 20 minutes when Ravazzolo scored to give Amatori a 5-3 lead and evoke memories of Neath’s shock loss to Viadana last season.

Referee Dave Pearson then ruled that the Amatori defence illegally collapsed a scrum on their line and awarded a penalty try, converted by Jarvis.

Centre James Storey scored a good try in the 38th minute, and from the next kick-off, most of the Neath side handled the ball in a flowing movement downfield finished off by hooker Barry Williams.

Jarvis missed the touchline conversion but Neath went into the break 22-5 ahead.

Zullo kicked two penalty goals early in the second half to narrow the gap, but a try to veteran back-row Rowland Phillips, the captain for the day, restored Neath’s healthy lead.

Italian international hooker Giampiero De Carli gave the tiny crowd of 2,500 plenty to cheer about with a stunning try after 50 minutes, and with Zullo potting goals from all over the park, the All Blacks began getting nervous.

Worse was to come – full-back Ravazzolo produced a delightful chip and chase to score, and Zullo’s conversion narrowed the margin to a solitary point with 10 minutes left on the clock.

The 21-year-old then coolly slotted a penalty goal to give his side the lead and an interception try from scrum-half Eugenio Trecate in the last minute simply confirmed the stunning upset.