Wasps’ sting stymies

Perpignan 6 Wasps34

The visitors, against all expectation, ran in four tries to qualify for the knock-out stage as second seeds.

But as important as the touchdowns was the London side's defensive discipline, despite the sin-binning of locks Simon Shaw and Martin Purdy.

Perpignan, last year's runners-up, were unable to break through against one of the great European club performances.

Two Manny Edmonds penalties for Perpignan were cancelled out by a converted Jonny O'Connor try and a Mark van Gisbergen penalty.

O'Connor's try came from the first Wasps foray deep into enemy territory, but was due reward for their composed ball retention in the opening quarter.

Van Gisbergen, who took over the kicking duties after fly-half Alex King tweaked a muscle in an early attempted place kick, added a second penalty in the second half with Wasps still a man down following Shaw's sin-binning for throwing a punch.

With their focus on scoring the four tries they needed to secure the bonus point to qualify, Perpignan were caught on the break.

Samoan hooker Trevor Leota ripped the ball from Mick O'Driscoll in contact to allow Robert Howley to release Tom Voyce down the blind-side for the match-winning score.

And with time running out, despite being reduced to 14 again after Purdy's yellow card, Wasps added two more touchdowns from Erinle on the break before Dallaglio crashed over with the last play of the game.

PERPIGNAN: F Cermeno; P Bomati, P Giordani, C Manas, D Luger; M Edmonds, L Loustau; P Freshwater, M Konieckiewicz, N Mas, C Gaston, R Alvarez Kairelis, G Le Corvec, B Goutta (capt), M O'Driscoll.

WASPS: M Van Gisbergen; J Lewsey, F Waters, M Denney, T Voyce; A King, R Howley; C Dowd, T Leota, W Green, S Shaw, M Purdy, J Worsley, J O'Connor, L Dallaglio (capt).

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).

Northampton9

Scarlets18

BARRY DAVIES scored a stunning try as the Scarlets clinched the final place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Northampton.

Davies bravely slid in on the halfway line to claim a chip by Saints' Paul Grayson before regaining his feet and scorching over under the posts.

Dafydd Jones also crossed for the Welsh side as they out-scored their hosts by two tries to nil.

NORTHAMPTON: Reihana, Tucker, Hyndman, Leslie, Cohen, Grayson, Robinson, Smith, Thompson, Morris, Lord, Connors, Blowers, Fox, Seely.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: B. Davies, Evans., Taylor, Watkins, Finau, S. Jones, Peel, I. Thomas, McBryde, J. Davies, Cooper, A. Jones, D. Jones, Easterby, S. Quinnell.

Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland).

Borders8

Agen3

BORDERS ended a miserable first campaign in the Heineken Cup with a win over Agen at Netherdale.

The two sides turned around 3-3 at half-time but the hosts sealed the win with a try from full-back Scott Paterson after the break.

Francois Gelez and Tanner Vili traded early penalties before play became bogged down with few genuine try-scoring opportunities.

On 50 minutes, Paterson created an overlap with a brilliantly timed run and the full-back was unstoppable as he plunged over.

BORDERS: S Paterson; N Walker, J Stuart, K Utterson, C Moir; T Vili, G Armstrong; C Dunlea, R Ford, B Douglas, S MacLeod, C Stewart, A Rennick, S Sititi, D Kane.

AGEN: P Elhorga; S Mirande, S Bonetti, G Bouic, O Sarramea; F Gelez, F Tandonnet; P Blanco, P Piacentini, O Hasan, M Kahla, J Parent, O Sverzut, P Benetton, E Bertrand.

Referee: Hugh Watkins (Wales).

Calvisano26

Warriors28

CELTIC WARRIORS were knocked out of the Heineken Cup despite a 28-26 victory at Calvisano.

Deiniol Jones and the three Gareths Wyatt, Cooper and Thomas scored the four tries to give Warriors what could have been a vital bonus point. But Wasps' 34-6 win in Perpignan saw them top Pool Six to qualify for the quarter-finals instead of the Warriors.

CALVISANO: M Ravazzolo; P Vaccari, G Raineri, C Zanoletti, A Vodo; G Fraser, P Griffen; G De Carli (capt), A Moretti, S Perugini, L Mastrodomenico, J Purll, C Mayerhofler, A De Rossi, M Zaffiri.

CELTIC WARRIORS: G Wyatt; D James, S Parker, G Thomas (capt), A Havili; C Sweeney, G Cooper; G Jenkins, M Davies, C Horsman, D Jones, R Sidoli, M Molitika, C Harris, R Parks.

Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland).