ULSTER successfully manoeuvred the first part of their Heineken Cup back-to-back clashes with Aironi at Ravenhill last night with a bonus-point victory in Pool Four.

BALLYNAHINCH’S Paddy McAllister gets a rare start when he lines out at loose-head as Ulster tackle Italian visitors Aironi in the first of important back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures at Ravenhill this evening.

BALLYNAHINCH’S Paddy McAllister gets a rare start when he lines out at loose-head as Ulster tackle Italian visitors Aironi in the first of important back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures at Ravenhill this evening.

Ospreys 28 Biarritz 21

NATHAN HINES has warned that Leinster’s Heineken Cup dreams will go up in smoke at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday if they fail to learn the lessons of their defeat to Munster in Limerick last weekend.

LOCAL derbies in any sport seldom live up to pre-match hype, but Saturday in Limerick was different — this was Munster verses Leinster.

THE bragging rights are Munster’s, temporarily at least, this humdinger of a Magners League top-of-the-table clash enough to excite even the most sedate supporters.

Munster 24 Leinster 23

Cardiff Blues 14 Castres 9

MUNSTER skipper Paul O’Connell received bad news yesterday, as a European Rugby Cup (ERC) appeals committee decided a four-week ban was just reward for the red card he sustained in the Heineken Cup win over the Ospreys earlier this month.

BIARRITZ gained revenge over Aironi Rugby last night with a convincing Heineken Cup victory in their return Pool 4 match at Parc des Sports Aguilera.

Newport Gwent Dragons 19 Toulouse 42

London Irish 33 Saracens 16

LEINSTER shipped five tries in a friendly defeat by English champions Leicester at Welford Road last night. There was little in it at half-time after Ian McKinley’s try had helped keep the visitors within six points at 20-14.

MUNSTER will pick from close to a full deck for Friday night’s Magners League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park.

THE inactivity caused by the big freeze of recent weeks showed in Leinster’s lacklustre performance for much of this Heineken Cup clash against Brive on Saturday night before the champions upped gears to secure a bonus point victory.

Leinster 27 Brive 10

Ulster 16 Leinster 14

Mike Tindall insisted England must keep on the right side of the law against France tomorrow - because they dare not risk the wrath of an angry Martin Johnson once again.

MARTIN JOHNSON watched on as Sale edged a ferocious encounter against Guinness Premiership leaders London Irish thanks to a try created and scored by three players hoping to catch the eye of the England manager.

BIARRITZ ensured hapless Viadana remained winless in Pool 4 of the Heineken Cup as they ran out 25-16 winners at the Parc des Sports Aguilera last night.

Edinburgh 35 Glasgow 31

Brive 15 Connacht 6