Toulouse, Cardiff tighten grip in European Cup

Three-time former winners Toulouse and Cardiff Blues remained unbeaten in the European Cup after securing pool wins on Saturday over Newport-Gwent Dragons and Biarritz respectively.

Toulouse - last season's beaten finalists - outscored the Dragons three tries to one to notch up their fourth win from as many games in Pool 5 but missed out on an attacking bonus point.

Second-placed Bath travel to Glasgow on Sunday in the knowledge that there can be no slip-up if they are to keep in contention with the French champions.

Maxime Medard reaped a brace for Toulouse, with the other try scored by Cedric Heymans, while the home side's sole try came through Rhys Thomas.

Cardiff Blues overcame dismal weather conditions to claim a vital 10-6 win over Biarritz in their Pool 6 clash.

The Welsh region, who have long failed to live up to expectations in Cup competition, now sit atop the pool with 18 points, having won all four of their matches.

Biarritz are unable to qualify for the knock-out stage of the tournament and the pool has become a two-horse race between Cardiff and second-placed Gloucester, who play Calvisano later Saturday.

All the scoring occurred in the first-half, Blues centre Jamie Robinson touching down for the game's only try in the 11th minute after Gareth Thomas had charged down a kick from Biarritz full-back Benjamin Thiery.

Former All Black full-back Ben Blair added the conversion to a penalty he had kicked a minute before for a 10-0 lead.

The home side hit back with two penalties from Damien Traille and Julien Peyrelongue around the half-hour mark but remained unable to breach the solid Blues defence in cold, rainy and muddy conditions in southwest France.

Ospreys moved to the top of Pool 3, and kept up their chances of a quarter-final berth, with a bonus-point 36-16 victory over winless Treviso. Leicester can take back top spot should they beat Perpignan on Sunday.

The Welsh region, 68-8 winners over the Italian club last week, scored tries through Sonny Parker (2), Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas and Filo Tiatia. Treviso hit back with a Brendan Williams breakaway try and the boot of Andrea Marcato.