Celtic League Heating Up

It was a big try-scoring weekend in the Celtic League, with all five winning sides collecting the four try bonus point.

It was a big try-scoring weekend in the Celtic League, with all five winning sides collecting the four try bonus point.

Leaders Neath-Swansea Ospreys remain unbeaten after week four thanks to a second half blitz of Ulster on Saturday night. Trailing 14-0 at the break the Welsh side hit back with 21 unanswered points early in the second half and with Sony Parker collecting the bonus point try they left Ulster in their wake to set up a four point cushion at the top of the league table.

Leinster had done all they could to stay in touch with The Ospreys when they defeated The Borders on Friday night. Their six try display featured a hat trick for Gary Brown, and two touchdowns for James Norton, while Denis Hickie also scored on his return to the starting lineup after nearly a year out with injury.

After defeats by The Ospreys and The Dragons, Llanelli Scarlets returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over Edinburgh Rugby. Three tries in the first 25 minutes saw The Scarlets in full control, and although Hugo Southwell had pulled one back for the visitors The Scarlets were able to collect their bonus point with two further tries in the final quarter.

Cardiff Blues also bounced back from defeat, outplaying Connacht on Friday night to move into third place. Dai Young’s side were much improved from last week’s heavy defeat by The Ospreys with skipper Martyn Williams, making his one hundredth appearance for The Blues and Cardiff, to the fore.

The final game of the round saw Newport-Gwent Dragons also claim maximum points when they travelled to Glasgow Rugby. Dan Parks had kept the home side in contention in a see-saw encounter but a late surge from The Dragons dashed the home side’s hopes of a third consecutive win.

WEEKEND RESULTS

CARDIFF BLUES 31 CONNACHT 6 GLASGOW RUGBY 29 THE DRAGONS 38 LEINSTER 50 THE BORDERS 13 LLANELLI SCARLETS 37 EDINBURGH RUGBY 16 ULSTER 24 THE OSPREYS 37

NEXT CELTIC LEAGUE ACTION

Friday 1 October

Newport Gwent Dragons v Leinster (Rodney Parade, 7.05pm, BBC Wales)

Saturday 2 October

Connacht v The Borders (Galway Sportsground, 2.30pm)

Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues (Murrayfield, 3pm, Setanta Scotland)

Neath-Swansea Ospreys v Glasgow Rugby (St Helens, 5.30pm, S4C)

Sunday 3 October

Munster v Llanelli Scarlets (Thomond Park, 5.15pm, Setanta Ireland/BBC Wales)

Bye Week

Ulster