AN Franciscato saw off Rugby Lions 48-21 in the Italian Cup on 27 September 2026. The hosts set up a comfortable margin early and saw it through without serious challenge. To be fair, the result reflected the gulf between sides on the day.
Franciscato have been inconsistent of late, losing 45-50 to Biella and 7-35 to Vicenza in November. Their only win in five came against these same Lions, 59-14, back in early November. By then they looked a different proposition.
Lions arrived on a run of defeat, having lost to Emilia 52-7 and Petrarch Padua 63-21 in April. Their last two games saw narrow defeats to Modjano and Biella, but neither was convincing enough to suggest a turnaround was imminent.
The scoreline told the story plainly. Franciscato outscored their opponents by 27 points, and the margin did not close as the match progressed. They did not need to chase the game or take risks.
This win puts Franciscato in a stronger position in the cup tie. Lions now face the prospect of finding another way forward, though the recent record suggests they are still searching for one.
