It was a disappointing Friday nights action for three of the Irish Provinces in the Celtic League, with Ulster losing to Glasgow, Leinster bowing to the Warriors and Munster outscored by the Llanelli Scarlets.
GLASGOW 27 ULSTER 25
Glasgow turned the Celtic League on its head as they produced a surprised 27-25 win over Ulster at Hughenden. The home side emerged victorious in this top versus bottom battle with a fabulous display of defensive relisinece to keep put Alan Solomons' league leading side. Ulster appeared to be on course to complete the treble over Hugh Campbell's men until a dramatic home revival. Warriors snatched two converted tries, then produced a heroic defensive performance to seal the win.
Full Details at: www.ulsterrugby.ie
LEINSTER LIONS 16 CELTIC WARRIORS 37
This is what the Celtic League is about - for the visiting Welsh fan at least. A fast paced, high impact match with bags of excitement was the perfect start of weekend of Welsh-Irish rugby field battles.
The visiting Warriors pulled away in the end, but it was a match crammed with action that could have gone either way until Lyn Howells' men turned up the gas. In the end the Celtic Warriors completed a home-and-away double over Leinster at Donnybrook, as they outscored their hosts by four tries to one in the 37-16 win.
Tries from left wing Richard Mustoe, scrum-half Sililo Martens and centre Shaun James provided the platform for outside-half Neil Jenkins to convert all three and add a hat-trick of penalties before Jon Bryant grabbed a bonus score in injury time.
Full Details at: www.leinsterrugby.ie
SCARLETS 37 MUNSTER 20
Fly-half Gareth Bowen claimed 22 points as the Scarlets got their Celtic League campaign back on track with a bonus point victory over Munster.
Bowen scored his side's crucial fourth try of the night right on the final whistle to end a Munster rally. The home side had led 20-3 at the interval and seemed firmly in command. Ireland wing Anthony Horgan then bagged two superb tries after the break to provide some nervous final moments for the Llanelli faithful.
Full Details at: www.munsterrugby.ie