Neath performed well in a rain soaked night at the Gnoll, to hold Heineken champions Leicester to a 16-16 draw.

The Welsh All Blacks took the game to the defending champions, and went in leading 13-6 at the half thanks to two Lee Jarvis penalties and a try from powerful Tongan back Dave Tuieti.

The second half saw a Tigers fight-back, with Austin Healy crossing the line with a typically brilliant individual try with just two minutes remaining.

But ill discipline from their French prop Frank Tournaire in the final minute, gave Wales A fly-half Lee Jarvis the chance to level the scores.

His penalty sailed through to send the Gnoll faithful into raptures.

PARKER PEN champions Sale Sharks found the step-up to Heineken Cup rugby tough as they went down at home to French side Bourgoin.

England full-back Jason Robinson opened the scoring with a fine try after eleven minutes.

But Bourgoin fought back with the boot of Benjamin Boyet, and when Pierre Caillet scored after 64 minutes, Bourgoin were on the verge of an unexpected, and famous victory. It finished 24-18 to the Frenchmen.

In Ireland, Celtic League champions Leinster got their Heineken Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 29-23 trumping of English side Bristol Shoguns.

A close match at Donnybrook saw both sides scoring two tries- for Leinster the scores came from wing Denis Hickie in the first half and No. 8 Victor Costello in the second.

Both Bristol tries came late in the game from New Zealand Centre Daryl Gibson and Argentine fly-half Filipe Contepomi.

But Leinster's power up front was enough to frustrate the Zurich Premiership side, Bristol lock Alex brown seeing yellow for persistent ball killing.

Leinster went in to the half-time interval leading 19-6, and despite conceding two late tries, they never looked like losing this one.

Meanwhile, at the Meadowbank Stadium, Newport's wretched run of results continued as they went down 27-17 to Edinburgh Rugby.

Scotland fullback Brendan Laney bagged 19 points, scoring four penalties, and converting his own try, Edinburgh's second try came from flanker John Leslie.

Newport's new vice-captain Ofisa Tonu'u did manage a try, but it was not enough to stop the Black and Ambers losing their tenth straight game.