Celtic League Highlights

It’s the Ospreys who still lead the field in the Celtic League after the fifth round of matches. Yet again the ‘men in black’ collected maximum points – and this time it was Glasgow.

It’s the Ospreys who still lead the field in the Celtic League after the fifth round of matches. Yet again the ‘men in black’ collected maximum points – and this time it was Glasgow who failed to receive even a bonus point against the Welsh pace-setters.

Not only did the Ospreys collect six tries but Gavin Henson’s 10 points saw him become the first player to reach the 400 mark in the Celtic League.

They are now nine points clear at the top but the Dragons are moving up on the rails and lie in third place, with a game in hand, after their comprehensive win over Leinster which kept their proud league record at Rodney Parade intact.

At the other end of the table The Borders came close to their first ever away win in the league after racing to a 22-3 lead in Galway after only half an hour. However Connacht edged back into the game and the visitors were finally robbed of a momentous victory when veteran fly half Eric Elwood kicked a match winning penalty 8 minutes into stoppage time at the end.

There was better news however for the third Scottish side as Edinburgh Rugby secured their first win of the season. Chris Paterson was on superb form with the boot scoring 25 pints in the victory over Cardiff Blues.

The round was completed on Sunday when Munster collected their first win of this campaign at a packed and rain swept Thomond Park. Despite the defeat, Scarlets’ boss Gareth Jenkins was pleased to take the losing bonus point in the 19-13 defeat.

A great weekend of Celtic rugby, don’t forget you can keep up to date with all the news and results on the official website, www.celticleague.com or by watching our broadcast partners; BBC Wales, S4C and Setanta Sports.

RESULTS ROUNDUP:

FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER

THE DRAGONS (16)34 LEINSTER (10)13 SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER

CONNACHT (10)29 THE BORDERS (22)27 EDINBURGH RUGBY (12)35 CARDIFF BLUES (13)16 THE OSPREYS (18)40 GLASGOW RUGBY (10)17 SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER

MUNSTER (5)19 LLANELLI SCARLETS (3)13

HIGHLIGHTS AND SNIPPETS:

– All this week’s matches were won by the home side. This has only happened once previously – in round five last year.

– The highest points scorer this week was Edinburgh Rugby stand-off Craig Paterson who amassed 25 points against the Blues at Murrayfield. Craig’s seven penalty goals broke the Edinburgh record in the Celtic League which had been held by Brendan Laney with six against Swansea RFC in August 2002.

– When Gavin Henson converted Steve Tandy’s try he became the first player to reach the 400 league point landmark in a Celtic League career.

– Derrick Lee’s try at Murrayfield was his 15th in the Celtic League and places him in joint first place in the all-time Celtic League try scoring stakes along with Munster’s Mike Mullins.

– There were Celtic League debuts this week for Cardiff Blues’ Samoan wing Freddie Tuilagi and Steve Swindall’s of Glasgow Rugby.

NEXT WEEK’S ACTION:

Friday 8 October

Ulster v Newport Gwent Dragons (Ravenhill, 7.05pm, BBC Wales)

The Borders v Neath-Swansea Ospreys (Netherdale, 7.30pm)

Saturday 9 October

Llanelli Scarlets v Connacht (Stradey Park, 5.30pm, S4C)

Glasgow Rugby v Munster (Hughenden, 7.30pm, Setanta Scotland)

Sunday 3 October

Leinster v Edinburgh Rugby (Donnybrook, 5.15pm, Setanta Ireland)

Bye Week

Cardiff Blues