The last remaining unbeaten teams in the Celtic League, Connacht and Glasgow, took their records to Wales today, and only Connacht go home with it intact.
Connacht kept up their 100 percent Celtic League record to remain top of Pool B. The Irish province came from 17 points behind to beat Bridgend 24-23 at the Brewery Field.
Connacht lost captain Tim Allnutt with a cruciate ligament injury late in the opening half, but the boot of fly-half Eric Elwood and tries to centre Darren Yapp and fullback Mark MucHugh left the home fans in stunned disbelief.
The win means Connacht are the first side to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Pontypridd beat Glasgow at Sardis road 34-28 in a narrow but deserved victory. The win keeps them on track for a place in the last eight. Ponty secured a bonus point thanks to tries from Mathew Rees, Sonny Parker, Ceri Sweeney and Micheal Owen.
Cardiff and Newport battled at Rodney Parade. In a thrilling and tense match, the lead changed eight times. With the score at 27-25 to Cardiff, Shane Howarth’s 81st minute penalty miss gifted the Blue and Blacks victory.
Howarth will be devastated, but his five penalties had kept the Black and Ambers in the match. The Cardiff trio of Rhys Williams, Jamie Robinson and wing Craig Morgan looked dangerous throughout. Morgan scored three fine tries, no doubt impressing the watching Steve Hansen.
This win keeps Dai Young’s men on course for quarter-final qualification. For Newport this signals the end of their Celtic League campaign.
In Pool A Swansea saw off Caerphilly 37-35. The victory means the All Whites retain a slim hope of making the quarter-finals.
Caerphilly fly-half Luke Richards gave visiting fans hope of a rare victory with six penalty goals, but tries to All Whites Sam Cordingley, Arwel Thomas and a brace to in-form winger Shaun Payne proved the difference.
Caerphilly have now lost eleven straight Celtic League ties.
