Bowe comes off the bench to get Ospreys out of jail

FORMER Ulster wing Tommy Bowe helped defending champions Ospreys out of jail as they squeezed past Harlequins 24-23 in the EDF Energy Cup first round at Liberty Stadium.

Replacement Bowe, who has made an impressive start to his career in Swansea, grabbed his third try in five games via a breakaway effort three minutes into injury time, and James Hook nervelessly converted to save face for the Welsh region.

Ospreys head coach Sean Holley admitted there were “a few bruised egos” after Harlequins almost grounded his star-studded side, giving them a timely wake-up call ahead of their trip to the Leicester Tigers at Welford Road in their opening Heineken Cup encounter on Saturday.

Elsewhere, the Scarlets gave themselves a timely boost with an impressive 26-17 victory over Saracens at Vicarage Road, with the boot of Wales pivot Stephen Jones proving the difference between the two sides while Gloucester saw off Wasps 24-19.

Cardiff Blues had replacement Richard Mustoe to thank as they snatched a last-minute 18-17 away victory over Munster’s pool rivals Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park.

Stade Francais could be without scrumhalf Alexandre Albouy and Australian rugby league import Mark Gasnier for their opening Heineken Cup Pool Four clash with Ulster on Saturday.

Both face fitness battles for the visit to Ravenhill after suffering ankle and knee injuries respectively in Stade’s 34-16 win over Munster’s other Pool One opponents Montauban.

Two tries from wing Djibril Camara and hooker Mathieu Blin got the ball rolling for Stade before Matthieu Bastareaud and loose forward Mauro Bergamasco scored, securing the bonus point for Ewen McKenzie’s side.

While Stade’s seventh straight win saw them stay at the top of the table, Clermont weren’t quite as impressive, despite picking up a notable 30-23 success at Bourgoin.

While their much-vaunted backline has finally started to sparkle, coach Vern Cotter still has major headaches up front, where his side have been bossed in almost every game this term.

Biarritz were the big winners in France over the weekend, hammering Montepellier 45-3. The six-try victory will help quell the rumours surrounding the future of coaches Jacques Delmas and Jack Isaak, whose side are already 14 points off the summit. They travel to Gloucester in their opening Pool Six clash on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Perpignan geared up for their home tie with Treviso by swatting aside a surprisingly subdued Toulon, 37-12.

The damage was done in the space of eight frantic second-half minutes, as Perpignan ran in three tries and won a penalty try with the Varois reduced to 14 men.

Meanwhile, Toulouse kept in touch with Stade Francais at the top thanks to a workmanlike 28-10 win at Leinster’s pool rivals Castres.

A brace of tries from Maleli Kunavore helped them ease past their struggling hosts, who remain firmly stuck in the Top 14 basement with just eight points from seven games.

However, veteran coach Guy Noves will be without experienced French international Jean-Baptiste Elissalde when his side host Bath on Saturday.

The versatile half-back withdrew with an injury before kick-off, ensuring that Noves will be crossing fingers that former All Black Byron Kelleher stays in good health until then.