Leinster scored a 30-10 win over Bath at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and with Clive Woodward in attendance Malcolm O’Kelly did his Lions prospects much good with a stand out performance for the Irish province.

The other Celtic wins were reserved for Sunday with the Dragons and Munster both scoring away successes over Celtic opposition. The Dragons collected a 17-13 win over Edinburgh. After turning round at 10-10 the Dragons success was secured by a superb try from Hal Luscombe – as the centre celebrate his return to the Welsh squad.

Munster’s win at the Gnoll was created as so often has been the case in the past, by a solid forward platform and the reliable boot of Ronan O’Gara. The Irish side ran out  20-18 winners over the league leaders with O’Gara kicking 15 points and half back partner Peter Stringer adding their only try.

The Ospreys and Edinburgh were joined in defeat by Cardiff Blues, who were blown away in the second half by a superb Stade Français side on Friday night, Ulster, who were outclassed in the same pool by Gloucester, Llanelli Scarlets who were also on the wrong end of a heavy defeat – this time at the hands of Northampton and Glasgow who couldn’t keep apace with last year’s losing finalists Toulouse.

However there was better news in the European Challenge Cup where The Borders and Connacht both reached the second round.

After their 98-3 win away last weekend this time the Borders broke the ton as they put hapless Portuguese side AA Coimbra to the sword with a 107-3 win. They now face Clermont in the second round.

Connacht, who had lost their first leg in France, made amends at the Sportsground on Saturday with a 40-21 win over Narbonne which secured them a second round tie against Montpellier