European Round Up: Week 4


By Paul
December 15 2002

Other than Llanelli & Pontypridd, it was a dark weekend for Welsh Clubs. Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Bridgend were brutally humiliated by English opposition. It was embarrassing to say the least, but predictable all the same.

Heineken Cup

Llanelli 17-12 Sale

HT: 12-9 Attendance: 7,182
Llanelli: Tries Hodges. Pens: S. Jones 4.  
Sale: Bond, Perelini.  Cons: Walshe.  


Neath 56-10 Amatori & Calvisano

HT: 18-10 Attendance: 3,000
Neath: Tries - K James 2, S Tandy 3, A Durston, S Jones, S Connor, Penalty try; Cons - L Jarvis 4; Pen - L Jarvis
Amatori & Calvisano: Try - A Vodo; Con - V Zullo; Pen - V Zullo

Cardiff 0-31 Northampton Saints

HT: 0-24  Attendance: 4,700
Northampton Saints: Tries - T Smith, A Blowers, B Cohen, C Budgen; Cons - P Grayson 4; Pens - P Grayson 2

Bristol Shoguns 41 Swansea 23

HT: 26-3 Attendance: 4,327
 Bristol Shoguns: Tries - D Gibson 3, A Higgins, A Pichot; Cons - S Drahm 2; Pens - S Drahm 4
Swansea: Tries - G Henson, A Farley, A Thomas; Con - A Thomas; Pens - G Henson, A Thomas

London Irish 42 Newport 5

HT: 21-0 Attendance: 7,102
London Irish: Tries - J Bishop, B Everitt, B Venter, M Horak, M Mapletoft; Cons - B Everitt 4; Pens - B Everitt 3
Newport: Try - J Jones-Hughes

Parker Pen Challenge Cup Round 2-Leg 2

Bath 38-Bridgend 10

HT: 21-10 Attendance: 7,063
Bath Rugby: Tries - I Balshaw 2, A Crockett, K Maggs; Cons - O Barkley 3; Pens - O Barkley 4
Bridgend: Try - G Thomas; Con - A Carter; Pen - C Warlow

Bath  qualify for quarter-finals with + 26 points difference

Leeds 19-19 Pontypridd

HT: 16-9 Attendance: 2,062
Leeds Tykes: Try - A Dickens; Con - B van Straaten; Pens - B van Straaten 4
Pontypridd: Try - B Davey; Con - B Davey; Pens - B Davey 4

Pontypridd qualify for the quarter-finals 66-42 on aggregate

Parker Pen Shield Round 1-Leg 2

Madrid16-38 Ebbw Vale (Ebbw Vale go through + 43 points difference)
Caerphilly 58-17 Rovigo (Caerphilly go through + 37 points difference)

Inept is the only word to describe Sunday's performances, Cardiff's 2nd XV didn't turn up and deserved the hammering they took of an in form Saints side, the same can be said for Newport away in Reading. Swansea were lucky to have a respectful looking scoreline away in Bristol, where their defence went AWOL.

Dai Hodges came on to turn around Llanelli's match on Friday night, the American Back Rower collected Matthew J Watkins cross kick to sneak a crucial win. Glasgow's last minute win over Bourgoin, putting the Turks in pole position for a quarter Final spot. Neath were unimpressive against Calvisano, but they did at least beat they're Italian opponents.

Ponty came back from going 13-0 down in the opening minutes, to bravely draw with Leeds 19 all, going through comfortably on aggregate. The Valley Commandos will face Connacht in the next round. Bridgend were stuffed at Bath. In the Shield both Welsh sides won comfortably.

Would it have made much difference if provinces or super clubs were playing?

Thankfully back to domestic action next week.......

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