Heineken Cup gets northern juices flowing

Ulster managed to score a try and beat Clermont yesterday 16-11. Ospreys finished off Biarritz 28-21. Today, Toulouse just got past Gloucester today 21-17 with Luke Burgess turning in a man of the match performance. Luke McAllister had a performance to forget. Stephen Donald took his bow for Bath earlier in the day and had a chance to repeat his World Cup heroics with winning kick two minutes from time. He fluffed it. Their opposition, glasgow, unexpectedly stole the match as they lined up a drop kick, and it bounced off the onrushing defender and spun wildly. Richjie Gray followed up, grabbed it and slid under the posts. Firhill went wild. A great victory for the Scots - 26-21. As expected Saracens had an easy enough task against Treviso, with newcomer old-timer, John Smit, making his bow and scoring a try for the Northern Saffas in a five-try to two demolition of the Italians - 42-17.

In the final game of Saturday, Munster took on last season's finalists Northampton at Thomond Park. Game of the weekend. Tries on both sides with Doug Howlett touching down for the men in red to give them the lead - again in a match that was full of dynamism, powerful scrums, bone-jarring tackles. Back came the Saints to regain the lead at 21-20 with a superb try down the left touchline. Other heads would have dropped. Massive defense from both sides, and Munster were staring down the barrel at losing a second game in Limerick in 15 years of the competition. Still they came. The 80 minutes siren went and Munster still had the ball - inside their own half. Slowly they made their way up the pitch. Northampton smashed in the tackles. Progress up the pitch could be measured in inches. The phases grew and grew - 10, 15 20, 25, still they retained the ball, the crowd on their feet, the fans screaming at the their teams to keep going....30, 32, 35, Howlett, Murphy and Mafi made a burst, and Munster were 30 metres in the Saint's half. The p[layers were gasping from exhaustion. 6 minutes were on the clock. Even Nigel Owens was looking worn out. The ball was fed once again. 38 phases, 39, 40, and then 41, the ruck steadied, O'Gara moved back in to the pocket. O'Leary seemed to take an age. He picked, the ball few back, O'Gara collected and fired. Straight through the posts. 23-21 to Munster. Cue delirium in Thomond, Limerick, Munster and every red-packed bar throughout the country. Superb stuff. Fantastic match. Another Heineken Cup memory. Who needs the RWC?.......

And Ospreys hold out to win 28-21 against Biarritz. Ulster pull out a magnificent victory with resolute defending against Clermont and it finishes 16-11. Cracking match and victory.

Update.... Ulster don't give up. A brilliant breakaway run by Centre, Adam Darcy, then fed, Humphreys to touchdown and duly convert. Ulster now lead 16-11 with 8 minutes to go. Ian Balshaw thought he'd gone over for his hat-trick with Biarritz but was called back for a knock-on. Still 28-21

And so far, games running to predictions. In Pool 2 on Friday night, Cardiff Blues opened their account with a great away win against Racing Metro - 26-20. A perfect start for the Welshmen where French away wins are tough to achieve. Dan Parks had his shooting boots on, and his four penalties and converting two tries from Filise and Cuthbert gave them the victory. Poll 6 saw first timers, Connacht take the field in the H CUp, and they fought bravely at The Stoop against Quins who had hoped to run away with the game and get a bonus point. After gaining a good half-time lead, Connacht cam back strongly and outscored the Harlequins two tries to one. Their indiscipline cost them though, and the absence of a solid kicker like Keatley, meant they failed to get a last minute kick and a losing bonus point. It finished 25-17 to Quins. Pool 4 Had the Italians, Aironi, hosting two-time winners, Leicester, and the Tigers were on the scoreboard early. They ran out of steam and direction in the second half coupled with strong resistance from the Italian side, it finished 28-12 but no try bonus point for Leicester - a point they might regret come the final round of the pool stages next January. In the same pool, Ulster are currently hosting Clermont Auvergne at Ravenhill, and the French visitors currently lead in the second half in a tight game 11-9. Could be a close one, but the French look too good to go under, steered by Morgan Parra. An important away win is on the cards for them in this tough pool. However, Ulster have a great home record and they won't give up without a fight. In Pool 1, perennial poor travelllers, Castres, lost to the Scarlets - 31-23. The Welsh got three tries in their victory and prevented Castres getting the LBP. In Pool 5, Ospreys and Biarritz toughed out a first half with the Welshmen leading 6-3. They have begun to widen the gap in the second, and currently lead 28-21 just after the hour mark in front of their home crowd. Ospreys looking impressive, but Biarritz have just scored their second try - plenty to play for. Finally, in Pool 3, two games have finished. As predicted, London Irish blow hot and cold and managed to go cold and lose at home to a revitalized Edinburgh 19-20 - the Scots dominating the final 20 minutes Whilst Irish got the LBP, losing your home games is not a recipe for success. The absence of Brian O'Driscoll and Cian Healy was felt in the game between Leinster and newcomers, Montpellier. The Frenchmen took heart from their home crowd and took a deserved lead with a great breakaway, counter try finished by the outstanding blinder, Oudeadrago. Leinster subbed well in the second half, and after Sean Cronin barreled over for a well taken try, Sexton tied the game up with a last second penalty to a chorus of boos and it finished 16-16. In the end, 2 points from this game was a bonus for the defending champions who no doubt will get better as their RWC players blend back in.