European Round Up: Week 4
By Paul
December 15 2002
Other than Llanelli & Pontypridd, it was a dark weekend for Welsh Clubs. Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Bridgend were brutally humiliated by English opposition. It was embarrassing to say the least, but predictable all the same.
Heineken Cup
HT: 12-9
Attendance:
7,182
Llanelli: Tries
Hodges. Pens: S. Jones 4.
Sale: Bond, Perelini. Cons: Walshe.
Neath 56-10 Amatori & Calvisano
HT: 18-10 Attendance: 3,000
Neath: Tries - K James 2, S Tandy 3, A Durston, S Jones, S Connor, Penalty try;
Cons - L Jarvis 4; Pen - L Jarvis
Amatori & Calvisano: Try - A Vodo; Con - V Zullo; Pen - V Zullo
Cardiff 0-31 Northampton Saints
HT: 0-24 Attendance: 4,700
Northampton Saints: Tries - T Smith, A Blowers, B Cohen, C Budgen; Cons - P
Grayson 4; Pens - P Grayson 2
Bristol Shoguns 41 Swansea 23
HT: 26-3 Attendance: 4,327
Swansea: Tries - G Henson, A Farley, A Thomas; Con - A Thomas; Pens - G Henson, A Thomas
London Irish 42 Newport 5
HT: 21-0 Attendance: 7,102
London Irish: Tries - J Bishop, B Everitt, B Venter, M Horak, M Mapletoft; Cons
- B Everitt 4; Pens - B Everitt 3
Newport: Try - J Jones-Hughes
Parker Pen
Challenge Cup Round 2-Leg 2
Bath 38-Bridgend 10
HT: 21-10 Attendance: 7,063
Bath Rugby: Tries - I Balshaw 2, A Crockett, K Maggs; Cons - O Barkley 3; Pens -
O Barkley 4
Bridgend: Try - G Thomas; Con - A Carter; Pen - C Warlow
Bath qualify for quarter-finals with + 26 points difference
Leeds 19-19
Pontypridd
HT: 16-9 Attendance: 2,062
Leeds Tykes: Try - A Dickens; Con - B van Straaten; Pens - B van Straaten 4
Pontypridd: Try - B Davey; Con - B Davey; Pens - B Davey 4
Pontypridd qualify for the quarter-finals 66-42 on aggregate
Parker Pen Shield Round 1-Leg 2
Madrid16-38 Ebbw Vale
(Ebbw Vale go through + 43 points difference)
Caerphilly 58-17 Rovigo
(Caerphilly go through + 37 points
difference)
Inept is the only word to describe Sunday's performances, Cardiff's 2nd XV didn't turn up and deserved the hammering they took of an in form Saints side, the same can be said for Newport away in Reading. Swansea were lucky to have a respectful looking scoreline away in Bristol, where their defence went AWOL.
Dai Hodges came on to turn around Llanelli's match on Friday night, the American Back Rower collected Matthew J Watkins cross kick to sneak a crucial win. Glasgow's last minute win over Bourgoin, putting the Turks in pole position for a quarter Final spot. Neath were unimpressive against Calvisano, but they did at least beat they're Italian opponents.
Ponty came back from going 13-0 down in the opening minutes, to bravely draw with Leeds 19 all, going through comfortably on aggregate. The Valley Commandos will face Connacht in the next round. Bridgend were stuffed at Bath. In the Shield both Welsh sides won comfortably.
Would it have made much difference if provinces or super clubs were playing?
Thankfully back to domestic action next week.......