Superb Scarlets

The Welsh region warmed up for their EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 encounter with CA Brive next Friday with a brilliant 32-20 victory over Cell C Sharks in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Sam Costelow, who is the third top points-scorer in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, kicked 22 points – six penalties and two conversions.

Steff Evans, the leading try scorer in the EPCR Challenge Cup after the pool stage, crossed twice as Scarlets outplayed a team featuring a host of South Africa internationals.

Miotti magic

Elsewhere in the URC, Domingo Miotti starred as Glasgow Warriors recorded an impressive 38-26 win at Munster Rugby.

The Argentina fly-half contributed 18 points, crossing for a try as well as kicking five conversions and a drop goal.

Scores from Miotti, Fraser Brown, Stafford McDowall, and Cole Forbes saw Glasgow 28-0 at half-time, though they needed Sione Vailanu’s effort to give them some breathing room as Munster threatened a second-half turnaround.

Blade hat-trick

Connacht Rugby continued their hunt for a URC play-off spot as Caolan Blade’s hat-trick helped them to a commanding 41-26 bonus-point win over Edinburgh Rugby at The Sportsground.

Cathal Forde, Connor Oliver and Jarrad Butler also got over for Connacht, with scrum-half Blade completing his triple with Edinburgh down to 14 men due to a sin bin.

The victory bodes well for Connacht’s EPCR Challenge Cup trip to Benetton Rugby next Saturday.

Tshituka double

Benetton, meanwhile, were handed a 32-28 home defeat by Emirates Lions as the South African outfit’s Emmanuel Tshituka crossed for a try brace.

Scores from Rabz Maxwane and Quan Horne also helped the visitors’ cause, with Sanele Nohamba adding 12 points from the tee.

Benetton will be frustrated having been 11 points up on their fellow EPCR Challenge Cup contenders at half-time - Joaquin Riera, Marcus Watson, Siua Maile and Henry Stowers went over for the Italian side.

Toulon win final re-run

In the TOP 14, RC Toulon came out on top of a re-run of last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup final as they triumphed 27-23 at Lyon.

Toulon, who were beaten in the showpiece game for a fourth time last year, crossed through Duncan Paia'aua, Cheslin Kolbe and Waisea Nayacevalu.

Arno Botha and Ethan Dumortier dotted down for Lyon and Leo Berdeu kicked 13 points, but they were unable to repeat their 2022 success.

We’ve taken a look at the best of Saturday’s domestic action involving EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 clubs, with Scarlets stunning a star-studded Cell C Sharks side..