PERPIGNAN 26 CELTIC WARRIORS 19

Perpignan collected maximum points with a workmanlike performance at the Stade Aime Giral, as they beat the Celtic Warriors 26-19.

Last season's Heineken Cup runners-up were all over the Welsh region in the opening 40 minutes but fell off the pace in the second half as fly-half Ceri Sweeney inspired a Warriors comeback.

The sides spent the first 10 minutes sorting each other out, with poor handling letting them down as they tried to play running rugby in the Catalan sun.

Home fly-half Manny Edmonds hit the upright with his first attempt at goal after a damaging run from Perpignan's English prop Perry Freshwater, but was on the mark for the conversion of lock Christophe Porcu's pushover try in the 25th minute.

The powerful Perpignan pack began dominating the set-pieces, and a superb rolling maul set up England winger Dan Luger to go over in the corner, but Scottish referee Gregg Davies spotted a forward pass in the buildup.

Scrum-half Ludovic Lousteau was the next Perpignan player to cross the line after some brilliant work from fullback Frederic Cermeno, but referee Davies ruled he was held up by Warriors
winger Dafydd James.

The pressure finally told in the 40th minute as backrower Lionel Mallier dived over from close range. Edmonds' conversion and a late penalty goal to opposite number Sweeney gave last season's Cup runners-up a deserved 14-3 lead at
halftime.

The Warriors came out fired-up in the second half and a clever Sweeney chip put fullback Kevin Morgan over in the opening minutes, and Sweeney's extra narrowed the margin to four points. His penalty goal after a breakout from skipper Gareth Thomas narrowed it further as the crowd at the 'Bull Ring' fell silent.

Perpignan centre David Marty got them going again on the hour mark by shrugging off two tackles in a short burst to the try-line, but two penalty goals to
replacement Neil Jenkins brought the Warriors back to 19-21 to give the home fans a nervous few moments at the end of the match.

A late try to backrower Rimas Alvarez Kairelis gave the home side a bonus point, and Edmonds' missed conversion ensured the Warriors also earned a bonus point.

Perpignan 26 Celtic Warriors 19
HT: 14-3 Attendance: 10,000
Perpignan: Tries - C Porcu, L Mallier, D Marty, R Alvarez Kairelis; Cons - M Edmonds (3) Celtic Warriors: Try - K Morgan; Con - C Sweeney; Pens - C Sweeney (2), N Jenkins (2) Match points: Perpignan 5 pts; Celtic Warriors 1 pt

Heineken Man of the Match: David Marty (Perpignan)