The part-timers of Spain and Italy have enjoyed a rare old battle amongst themselves in this pool, with Worcester and Perpignan fighting it out for qualification, but the side from the Basque country were well worth their 16-10 victory.

The Spanish side had recorded a 13-3 win over the Italians in the first leg of the double header on their home patch last week to record their first win of the campaign.

Fly-half Micky Wilson missed an early penalty for Rovigo before his opposite number for the visitors, Deccie Cusack, landed a three-pointer of his own to give Bizkiaia Gernika the lead after nine minutes.

The Spanish side then went further ahead when wing Ini Olaeta crossed for the game's first try after 11 minutes to give Bizkiaia an 8-0 lead early on.

Cusack missed the conversion and Rovigo hit back with a try of their own when lock Jean-Francois Montauriol barged his way over for his side's first points.

Wilsonslotted the extras but neither side added to their score in a closely-fought end to the first-half which saw Bizkiaia go in with an 8-7 lead.

Cusack added his second penalty to put the visitors further ahead before he crossed for Bizkiaia's second try to give his side a 16-7 lead midway through the second period.

Full-back Rhys Lenarduzzi clawed the home side back to within six points with a penalty in the 75th minute but it wasn't enough to save his side from a fourth pool defeat.