Heineken cup round-up: Biarritz and Ulster into Heineken Cup quarter-finals

Published on Friday 21 January 2011 16:14

Twice Heineken Cup runners-up Biarritz moved into the knockout stages to keep alive their hopes of a first title and were joined by Pool 4 rivals and former champions Ulster.

The French team, beaten 21-19 by Toulouse in last year's final, scored four tries for a crucial bonus point on their way to a 26-19 win over Bath to secure top spot.

Ulster also secured a bonus point in a 43-6 hammering of Aironi to finish level on 22 points. Biarritz clinched first place, however, due to a better points difference, though the 1999 champions also qualified as one of the two best runners-up.

They join already-qualified group winners Toulouse, Toulon, Northampton and Leinster in the last eight

Ulster secured their place in the quarter-finals for the first time in 11 years at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella.

No.8 Pedrie Wannenburg scored twice in a man-of-the-match display while tries from Andrew Trimble, Chris Henry and a penalty try wrapped up a bonus point before Scotland wing Simon Danielli capped the victory with a late score. Fly-half Ian Humphreys also booted 13 points.

Munster scored three converted tries in the final ten minutes to break clear of London Irish and earn a confidence-boosting 28-14 bonus-point win.

Irish were just 12 minutes away from becoming only the second team to beat Munster in a Heineken Cup tie at Thomond Park. Their captain Seilala Mapusua scored a try and set up the second for Sailosi Tagicakibau as the visitors edged into a 14-7 lead, after a scoreless first half.

But Munster, who are Amlin Challenge Cup-bound now, hit back decisively with late tries from Niall Ronan, Keith Earls and replacement Darragh Hurley.

Wales wing Shane Williams came off the replacements' bench for his first game in ten weeks to inspire a lacklustre Ospreys to a 29-17 victory over Toulon in their final Pool 3 clash at the Liberty Stadium.

The Ospreys looked likely to lose to the French pool winners until Williams entered the fray just before the hour mark, creating a score for Scotland wing Nikki Walker just five minutes later.

Williams showed his magic despite not playing since damaging his shoulder playing for Wales against South Africa in November. They trailed what was effectively a Toulon second team 14-9 at the interval, leaking two tries, the first of which was scored by Scotland full-back Rory Lamont.