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Rugby Union

Irish top Heineken Cup pool with leisurely win in Treviso

19/01/2008

London Irish have guaranteed themselves a home draw in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals after brushing aside Italian side Treviso 24-11.

The Exiles opened up a healthy half-time lead as tries from scrum-half Peter Richards, Tomas De Vedia and Peter Hewat made it 19-0 going into the interval.

Treviso rallied after the restart and cheered their fans as they closed to within eight points through a Benjamin De Jager try and a brace of penalties from Marius Gooden.

But the hosts' hopes were killed off by a second try for Hewat late on in the game which booked the English side top spot in pool one.

Newport Gwent Dragons' involvement in the competition was brought to a shuddering end as Perpignan secured the group's second qualifying position with a 25-0 win at Rodney Parade.

Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Adrien Plante and David Marty crossed for the visitors while former Dragon Percy Montgomery piled on the pain with a pair each of conversions and penalties.

Edinburgh also bowed out after coming dramatically unstuck on their trip to Toulouse as the French side racked up a 34-10 victory.

Two tries from international winger Vincent Clerc were added to by scores from Yves Donguy, Salvatore Perugini and Florian Fritz as the hosts set out their impressive credentials.

A late consolation try from Ben Gissing salvaged some dignity for the visitors but Toulouse had already begun to ease off by then.