A winning start for Ulster and Leinster in Saturday's Heineken Cup action.

Ulster got things underway with a first half blitz of three time champions Toulouse. Two tries from Andrew Trimble and a third from Ireland scrum half Isaac Boss saw Ulster off to a flying start and though they may rue missing out on a bonus point in the second half, the win was well earned.

David Humphreys was as accurate as ever with three conversions and three penalties to ensure Ulster's victory over the star studded French side.

A 27 - 3 half time lead must have left both sides slightly stunned and a tighter Toulouse kept Ulster to a single penalty in the second half but failed to break the resolute Ulster line.

Ulster travel to Stradey Park next to face a Llanelli side who notched up their first away win in four games with a 25 - 32 victory over London Irish - Ireland flanker and Llanelli skipper Simon Easterby contributing one of four tries.

...Stephen Keogh socres his first Leinster and European try following a counter attack by O'Driscoll and Hickie from their own 22...

Meanwhile in Lansdowne Road a scrappy second half could not take the gloss off a bonus point win for Leinster over a Gloucester side unbeaten in the Guinness Premiership.

Gordon D'Arcy was first off the mark for his nineteenth Leinster try and this was followed by a Contepomi special - a chip over the line that bounced from man to post and fell kindly for the Leinster out half. A first european try for Stephen Keogh following a counter attacking break from O' Driscoll and Hickie helped Leinster to a 30 - 17 lead at half time.

While the tries were spectacular it was Leinster's ability to convert position to points courtesy of three Contempomi penalties that really sealed the lead.

A second half try from Shane Horgan and conversion from Contempomi to a single Gloucester penalty were the only scores to be added in a game that became scrappier as the conditions deteriorated.

Ireland flanker Keith Gleeson put in a Man of The Match performance, but young Cillian Willis received a rousing cheer for his gutsy game when giving way to Andy Dunne late on.

Pictures: Inpho/Morgan Treacy & Dan Sheridan