Challenge Cup: Rovigo 6-34 London Irish

Samoa international Ofisa Treviranus celebrates his hat-trick in Italy

London Irish were made to work hard in Rovigo for the victory that secured home advantage in the last eight of the European Challenge Cup.

The Exiles led 10-6 at the break thanks to the boot of Shane Geraghty and a try by flanker Ofisa Treviranus.

James Short crossed for their second score after half-time, and Treviranus doubled his tally before Topsy Ojo sealed the bonus-point victory.

Treviranus completed his hat-trick as Irish ran away with it at the end.

The result meant the Exiles pipped Cardiff to top spot in pool one of the European Challenge Cup, booking a quarter-final at the Madejski Stadium.

Rovigo had shipped a century of points in their last European outing, but they took the lead through Stefan Basson's early penalty.

Despite losing Halani Aulika to the sin-bin, however, London Irish bounced back and went ahead through Samoa international Treviranus.

Skipper George Skivington was the second Exiles player to see yellow after the interval, but this time winger Short crossed to give Irish some breathing space.

Three tries in ten minutes saw the Premiership side home, with Ojo dotting down the crucial fourth, either side of two more touchdowns for Treviranus, to secure maximum points for the visitors.

Rovigo: Basson; McCann, Menon, Van Niekerk, Ngawini; Rodriguez, Bronzini; Roan, Mahoney (capt), Ravalle; Maran, Montauriol; Zanini, Ruffolo, Ferro.

Replacements: Ceccato, Balboni, Pozzi, Caffini, Lubian, Frati, Majstorovic, Manghi.

London Irish: Fenby; Ojo, Fowlie, Sheridan, Short; Geraghty, Steele; Court, Stevens, Aulika; Skivington (capt), Sinclair; Treviranus; Cowan, Guest.

Replacements: Mayhew, Halavatau, Cross, Cox, Low, Allinson, Dorrian, Homer.