Ulster, Neath and Llanelli compete for last two

After the penultimate round of the 2002 Celtic League Pool stages, Cardiff and Edinburgh both secured spots in the quarter-finals, whilst Irish province Connacht lost their unbeaten run in decisive style as they crashed 0-40 at home to Pontypridd, who now take over at the top of Pool B.

Although it took Pontypridd 30 minutes to register their first score, and only leading 15-0 at half-time, Pontypridd scored 25 points in the second-half with no reply, winger Gareth Wyatt helping himself to two tries as the Welsh side ran in five in all.

Elsewhere Cardiff cruised past Bridgend 37-12 whilst in the other all-Welsh affair Llanelli crushed rivals Swansea 62-6 in a bad-tempered affair at Stradley Park on Friday.

Swansea had Gavin Henson and Dean Thomas both sent-off for violent play and then watched as Llanelli ran in eight unanswered tries to complete a miserable night for the All Whites who saw their quarter-final hopes disappear.

There was good news for Scottish side Edinburgh who did enough to beat Ebbw Vale whilst Munster join them in the quarter-finals as they scored four tries to one in a comfortable away win over Neath.

Ulster did what was needed to stay ahead in the race for one of the remaining two quarter-final spots from Pool A as they thrashed Caerphilly 67-15 whilst Glasgow missed an opportunity as they fell 53-12 to Borders at Netherdale.

With just one round of pool fixtures remaining, Pontypridd, Connacht, Cardiff and Glasgow have secured all four play-off spots in Pool B, whilst in Pool A, Edinburgh and Munster are the only sides sure of a quarter-final tie.

Ulster, Neath and Llanelli will compete for the remaining two spots.