Heineken Cup teams didn't have everything their own way at the weekend, with PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP sides causing a few upsets.
In-form Welsh side Pontypridd recorded a gritty 15-9 win over Cup side Cardiff, while in England, London Wasps upset Zurich Premiership front-runners Gloucester 23-16, and Leeds Tykes sneaked home over fellow PARKER PEN side Bath 22-20.
Gloucester's chances weren't helped by an early red card for Adam Eustace, with Wasps' England lock Simon Shaw scoring the crucial try 10 minutes from the end.
The wins to Pontypridd and Leeds pave the way for a mouth-watering second-round Challenge Cup series between the two, with Pontypridd's Brett Davey - unwanted by Welsh selectors - going head to head with Springbok superboot Braam van Straaten.
Bath are preparing to face Bridgend, who had no answer to Irish heavyweights Leinster on Saturday, losing 18-39.
Munster continued on their merry way in the Celtic League, beating Caerphilly 41-0, while Ulster pipped Llanelli 16-9 and Edinburgh recorded a superb 27-13 victory of tough Welsh outfit Neath. Fellow Scots Glasgow beat Connacht 29-7.
Heineken Cup champions Leicester brought Saracens back down to earth with a thump, winning 26-18 only seven days after Saracens' record-breaking 151-0 win over Dinamo Bucaresti.
Northampton Saints pipped London Irish 14-12, with big England winger Ben Cohen scoring the game's only try.
Beleagured Welsh side Swansea began their long road back to competitiveness with a 33-20 win over Ebbw Vale, while Newport finally ended their 11-game losing streak with a 24-8 win over Borders.
In France, seven out of the eight home teams won, with Agen defeating Heineken Cup heavyweights 27-19, and Montferrand providing the only away win - 22-21 at Grenoble. PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP side Stade Francais beat Heineken Cup team Bourgoin 20-12.
In Italy, Overmach Parma and Petrarca drew 23-all, Benetton beat Rugby Rovigo 15-8, Roma proved too good for GR.A.N. Rugby Parma 20-6, Arix Viadana pipped Rugby Silea 49-40 in a try-laden match and Calvisano & Amatori were too good for L'Aquila, winning 43-7.