European Champions Cup: Racing destroy Treviso 53-7 at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir
Last Updated: 18/01/15 11:42pm
Racing Metro hammered Treviso 53-7 at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir to move top of Pool 5 of European Rugby Champions Cup.
They now face a winner-takes-all showdown with Northampton at Franklin's Gardens next Saturday, the victors advancing to the quarter-finals.
The Italians remain without a point and were soundly beaten in this encounter, with Racing’s hooker and captain Dimitri Szarzewski scoring a hat-trick of tries.
It took the hosts only nine minutes to get off the mark as Henry Chavancy crossed over for their opening try that was converted by Maxine Machenaud.
Twenty minutes later, Benjamin Lapeyre crossed for his first try since making his debut in 2013 and Szarzewski added a third as the hosts claimed a 19-0 half-time lead.
Less than two minutes after the break, Racing secured a bonus point as Szarzewski took advantage of a yellow card for Rupert Harden.
His hat-trick try arrived with 54 minutes on the clock and, although Michele Campagnaro then grabbed a try for Treviso to reduce the deficit, Juan Imhoff quickly scored Racing's sixth.
And there was still time for the hosts to add three more, with Imhoff and Lapeyre both notching their second while Racing's forward dominance resulted in a penalty try.
The result was enough to take them above Northampton Saints into top spot ahead of next weekend's meeting between the top two teams at Franklin's Gardens.