Leinster win, Wilkinson injured again

LONDON - Leinster became the only side to win their first five pool games in the Heineken Cup rugby competition when they scored two tries in the last three minutes to stun Bath 27-23 away yesterday and secure their place in the quarter-finals.

On the penultimate weekend of pool action, Newcastle, the only other unbeaten side after four rounds, went down 33-12 to Perpignan and also lost England first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson with a leg injury.

Munster maintained their remarkable unbeaten home record with a 20-10 victory over the Neath-Swansea Ospreys and there were wins for Treviso, Newport-Gwent and Castres.

Bath seemed on course for a notable victory when they led Leinster 23-13 late in their Recreation Ground pool two clash.

Leinster had taken the early lead with a Shane Jennings try but Bath charged back with tries from Steve Borthwick and Brendon Daniel.

Olly Barkley converted both and landed two penalties but he also missed two others, which proved costly.

Leinster's former Wellington first five-eighths David Holwell, who finished with 17 points, charged down an attempted Chris Malone clearance three minutes from time, successfully converting his own try to give Leinster hope.

A neat passing move then ended with Ireland lock Malcolm O'Kelly popping up on the right wing to score a dramatic winner.

The victory took Leinster to 21 points and ended the hopes of Bath, who are third on 11.

Treviso still have a chance of clinching one of the best runners-up spots after moving to 14 points with their 40-29 home win over Bourgoin.

Tries for Brendan Williams, Walter Pozzebon, Stuart Legg and Sergio Parisse, together with 20 points from the boot of Marius Goosen, left Treviso still dreaming of carrying the Italian flag into the knockout stages.

Newcastle's charge to the last eight was derailed by Perpignan and with Newport-Gwent Dragons thrashing Edinburgh 48-5, pool five remains wide open.

Newcastle lead with 17 points, ahead of Perpignan and the Dragons, who both have 15.

Everything will be settled next Sunday when Newcastle host the Dragons and Perpignan travel to Edinburgh, who have lost all five games so far.

Perpignan were deserved winners yesterday, though they moved clear only in the second half as two tries for Rimas Alvarez Kairelis and one each for Nicolas Mas and Jan-Gideon van der Heever secured the bonus-point victory.

Newcastle's points came from four Wilkinson penalties but it was another disappointing day for the first five, who left the field in the 68th minute with a knee injury after being caught in a ruck.

Newport-Gwent scored eight tries in their 48-5 thrashing of Edinburgh and could still go through if they win at Newcastle next week.

Munster look set to make the quarter-finals for the seventh successive season.

Shane Williams gave them a scare with an early try for the Welshmen but tries by Anthony Foley and Christian Cullen, together with 10 kicked points for Paul Burke, proved enough.

In the other pool four game Castres poured on the points in the second half to thrash Harlequins 58-13 - the London club's worst Heineken Cup defeat.

- REUTERS