Parker Pen Challenge Cup Round-up

Bridgend's 27-9 win on the back of nine Warlow penalty goals gives the Brewery Field a mouth-watering Challenge Cup series against English club Bath.

Warlow's effort equals the tournament record for penalties in a match.Pontypridd cantered into the Challenge Cup draw with an 83-8 win over Italian minnows Roma - despite the visitors taking a shock early lead.

The Pontypridd players returned from Italy last weekend with a 42-point buffer and proceeded to run in 13 tries, including four to winger Gareth Wyatt.

He scored a brace in the space of three minutes to set Ponty on their way to a 36-8 lead at the break.

Wyatt and backrower Geraint Lewis completed their try hat-tricks in the second half with outside half Ceri Sweeney adding eight conversions.

Sweeney blotted his copybook with a yellow card for fighting in the final minutes, with Wyatt forced to convert his fourth try in the last minute.

Caerphilly put in a huge performance, outscoring Quins 5-4 on tries but failing 27-31 for the lack of a goal-kicker. Ace marksman Luke Richards is

out with a shoulder injury.

Caerphilly coach Mark Ring said: "This was a magnificent show by my boys and they were so unlucky to lose.

"We scored great tries and if we had hit the target with our kicks we would have walked it.

"Now we are looking forward to our Celtic League games especially the first game against Munster."

Bath marched into the Challenge Cup with a 57-19 win over GR.A.N.Rugby Parma.

A crowd of nearly 8,000 saw Irish international winger Kevin Maggs and centre Alex Crockett run in two tries apiece.

Bath bagged nine tries altogether as the home side added to last week's 403 win in Italy.

Full-back Ollie Barkley banged over six conversions while the visitors outside half Rouan Nel grabbed nine points with a try and two conversions.

Connacht strolled into the next round of matches with a 47-29 win over French side Mont de Marsan.

The Irishmen ran in five tries with hooker Marnus Uijs crossing for two of them.

Stade Francois hammered Rovigo 81-20 to set up a juicy two-leg series against a star-studded Harlequins outfit. Julian Berthy scored 24 points, including two of Stade's 13 tries.

Bordeaux-Begles made hard work of home advantage before beating La Moraleja Alcobendas 33-15, with backrower Alex Manta getting three of their five tries.

Bordeaux are likely to meet London Wasps in the first round of the Challenge Cup. Wasps play Rugby Parma tomorrow