Time to Play? Week one of the Magners League saw quite a bit of good early season play. Pick of the bunch might just be Ulster keeping Llanelli scoreless in the second half or Connacht's all round polished performance.

With a try and a drop kick, Connacht's Paul Warwick deserves a mention, while Mark McHugh's four penalties and two conversions helped them to live up to the old maxim at Border Reivers - they took their points!

Timmy Ryan of Munster had an action-packed match at Cardiff Blues - he came on as a substitute, got sin-binned, and nabbed a late try all in the space of about twenty minutes.

Performance of the weekend, however, must go to Ulster's David Humphreys. He tops the leader board for the most points scored in the Magners League. It may be only week one, but we have a feeling that his name could well be up there or thereabouts when this league comes to a close.

A try, two conversions and four penalties didn't get him man-of-the-match - that went to Paul Steinmetz, deservedly so for his all round play - but it certainly demonstrates that Humphreys' presence for Ulster could be a marker for their defence of their title. He tops the leader board with 21 points, five ahead of the westerners' number 10 McHugh - reflecting also their team standings in the league table.

Overall it was a good opening weekend, blowing away the cobwebs for most teams. New blood in the sides, old faces making a comeback - Chris Cusiter, Ryan Jones, Stephen Jones, Kieron Dawson in an Ulster shirt, some flashes of that old All-Black magic from Justin Marshall.

The only bonus points were earned in defeat with the Warriors of Glasgow and the Gunners of Edinburgh ensuring some return from their defeats by Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys respectively.

Match Round-Ups:

Friday 1 September 2006 at Netherdale
Border Reivers 15: Calum MacRae(5P)
Connacht 29: Gavin Williams(T) Paul Warwick(T/D) Mark McHugh(2C/4P)


Friday 1 September 2006 at Arms Park
Cardiff Blues 22: Chris Czekaj(T) Scott Morgan(T) Nick Robinson(4P)
Munster 13: Tim Ryan(T) Jeremy Manning(C/2P)


Friday 1 September 2006 at Hughenden
Glasgow Warriors 23: Sam Pinder(T) Graeme Morrison(T) Dan Parks(2C/2P) Colin Gregor(P)

Newport Gwent Dragons 24: Ceri Sweeney(T/C/3P) Aled Brew(T) Mike Hercus(D)


Saturday 2 September 2006 at Liberty Stadium
Ospreys 17: Lee Byrne(T) Gavin Henson() James Hook(4P)
Edinburgh Gunners 11: Simon Webster(T) Chris Paterson(2P)


Saturday 2 September 2006 at Ravenhill
Ulster 31: David Humphreys(T/2C/4P) Paul Steinmetz(T) Mark Bartholomeusz(T)
Llanelli Scarlets 16: Darren Daniel(T) Stephen Jones(C/3P)

For Magners League Standings - click here.

Top Points Scorers