GRAN RUGBY 41, ROTHERHAM 33
GRAN Rugby gave Italian clucb rugby a shot in the arm as they disptached English club Rotherham in the Parker Pen Shield.
Italy has usually proven a happy hunting ground for British sides but the Titans, bottom of the Zurich Premiership, must wait another week for their first win of the season after slipping 41-33 in Parma.
Rotherham were trailing 41-19 at the end of normal time after conceeding five tries to Diego Sacca, outside-half Sebastian Caffaratti, Viliami Vaki, Antonio Mannato and Ross Cook who converted all five.
But they gave themselves a glimmer of hope for the return leg next week with two injury-time tries by left wing Michael Wood, both converted by Jon Benson, that left them eight points behind on aggregate.
Benson had got Rotherham off to a flying start at the Sergio Lanfranchi stadium with a try within two minutes of the start.
Former Wales No 8 Geraint Lewis added a second on 26 minutes before the Italians came storming back with three tries during a 16-minute spell in the second half.
GRAN Rugby: Tries - D Sacca, V Vaki, A Mannato, R Cook, S Caffaratti; Cons - R
Cook (5); Pens - R Cook (2)
Rotherham Titans: M Wood (2), J Benson, G Lewis; Cons - J Benson (2); Pens - J
Benson (3)
