A GARDENER was threatened with an axe as he tried to go after thieves who made off with a Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece from a castle, a court heard.

THE Scarlets scored five tries to secure Magners League victory over Welsh regional rivals the Dragons at Stradey Park.

NORTHAMPTON boosted their hopes of earning a quarter-final place in the Heineken Cup with a solid bonus-point triumph over struggling Borders in a match switched from storm-lashed Netherdale to Murrayfield at short notice.

BRAVE Borders went within a whisker of creating the biggest ever Heineken Cup shock as they salvaged pride in France.

Borders 8 Newport Gwent Dragons 20