By Paul & Dai (07/12/02)
December 7 2002

A good weekend for Welsh clubs in Europe, in the matches that mattered Wales came out mostly on top. Llanelli shocked Sale at Heywood road on Friday night, in what was only one of the five Welsh victories over English clubs this weekend.

Saturday

Calvisano 38 Neath 29


Neath slumped to an unexpected  defeat in Italy for the second season running. The Gnoll club even had a 22-5 lead at half time, but let the game slip way from them timidly. Young Amatori outside-half Vincenzo Zullo took ever opportunity to punish the visitors, finishing with 18 points from the boot.

Having edged ahead with 10 minutes left on the clock, the inexperienced home side were not to be denied an interception try from scrum-half Eugenio Trecate in the last minute confirmed Lyn Jones's worst fear's, leaving the 2, 500 crowd in ecstasy. Neath's exit from the tournament all but mathematically over.

Swansea 26-19 Bristol

Under the new captaincy of Darren Morris, Swansea bravely clawed themselves back from a 16-9 deficit, to record their first win the competition. A try a piece from Charvis and Robinson, scored in brilliant style in the last 15 minutes, completed a spirited comeback.

Italian Ref Guilio De Santis famous for the band still being on the pitch as the game kicked off between Wales and Canada in this years autumn international, disadvantaged the West Country premiership strugglers by sin binning Darren Crompton and Ross Beattie. Arwel Thomas and Gavin Henson both contributed with the boot, between them kicking 16 points. Argentinian Outside half  Felipe Contepomi scored all of Bristol's points, including their only try. A much relieving victory for the Whites.

Newport 16 London Irish 12

Jason Forster's try, the only of the match, proved to be the only difference between the sides. In a physical encounter the boot's of Jason Strange and Barry Everitt dominated the score board. The Irish outside half gave his side a 9-6 lead mid way through the second half, but a rolling maul towards the visitors line, resulted in Port's Flanker Forster crashing over from short range. Strange converted, adding the vital two points, to give the Black and Ambers a 13-9 lead. Constant pressure from Irish forced Newport to give away a penalty in front of the post's, which Everitt again converted. Strange extended the home sides lead to 4 points, which they were eventually to hold on to.

Northampton 25-11 Cardiff

The Blue & Blacks exit was confirmed by an on-form Saint's team, in a scrappy affair at Franklin's Gardens. Although Cardiff were spirited, they never looked like challenging a powerful pack. At half time player/coach Dai Young's side were only 4 point's a drift, thanks to a well worked try by Full Back Rhys Williams, the Welsh Full Back leaving England wing Cohen for dead.

Any hope the travelling fan's had was killed off by a try from an avenging Cohen just after half time. A penalty from Grayson added to the frustration of the away side, not helped by bizarre decisions from Scottish Ref Iain Ramage.

Pontypridd 37-23 Leeds

Coming soon

European Shield

Ebbw Vale comfortable dispatched  Spanish club Madrid 2012 at Eugene Cross Park 37-16, but Caerphilly went down in Italy against Rovigo 26-22.


Friday night
 

Bridgend 28 -26 Bath

In a closely fought encounter Bridgend came away with a slight advantage before they travel to The Rec next weekend where they can expect a bigger challenge from Bath. Things started well for the Ravens as they raced into a 14 - 3 lead thanks to tries from Gareth Thomas and Christian Loader before Bath hit back near the break with tries of their own from Welsh scrum half Andy Williams and a lucky try from Iain Balshaw on his return to the Bath team after seven months out injured.

After half time, Bath led by 20 points to 14 although it was Bridgend who scored first in the second half thanks to a penalty from wing Craig Warlow. This was followed by a second try for captain Gareth Thomas which put the Ravens into a 22 - 20 lead. However two penalties for Bath put them back in front until right at the death when Bridgend were awarded a penalty and Craig Warlow struck it between the uprights to give Bridgend the advantage as they prepare for a second battle next weekend.

Sale Sharks 19 - 30 Llanelli

This game seemed to have everything, seven tries and two red cards and it was Llanelli who came back from Heywood Road with the victory. Llanelli crossed for the first try of the evening after only 90 seconds thanks to Scott Quinnell and then this was followed by a second try which Robin McBryde scored. However it was Sale who went into half time with a 19 - 15 advantage thanks to three first half tries through Mark Cueto, Jim Thorp and Vaughan Going.

The other action of the first half was a mass brawl which resulted in red cards for Iain Fullerton of Sale and Dafydd Jones of Llanelli. In the second half Llanelli managed to score a further two tries through Garan Evans and Martin Madden which gave them a valuable win and maintains their interest in this seasons Heineken Cup.