Welsh there in numbers for big bonanza

After three more triumphs over the fourth pool weekend, Wales have come out on top in 14 of their 20 fixtures to date.

Swansea are now the only unbeaten team in the tournament but Cardiff and Llanelli are leading their pools with two games to play. Newport and Pontypridd went down to defeats away from home at the weekend, but both teams are still in with a chance of reaching the last eight if they can win their two remaining pool matches. But as the focus of the season turns to the autumn internationals, Cardiff coach Lynn Howells, whose side completed the double over English Premiership leaders Saracens on Friday night, has warned all the clubs against complacency. 'Nothing has been decided and nobody is pencilled in for the quarter-finals just yet,' he said. 'I've said all along that our group, and the others, will go down to the last game. They are that tight.' While Cardiff know they will qualify for the knock-out phase if they can beat Ulster at the Arms Park in their next fixture, Swansea have two tough away games to negotiate at Wasps and Stade Francais before they can be sure of going through.

Their 12-try, 73-3 massacre of the Italian side L'Aquila put them in a strong position in Pool Two. Former Wales full back Kevin Morgan was the star of the show with a hat-trick of tries, while wing Matthew Robinson equalled the Heineken Cup try record in a season as he took his tally in four outings to eight. Llanelli made it a double over Italian opposition as they beat Roma 41-21 in Pool Four. But while their victory was cause for celebration, the real cheer came when Colomiers beat Gloucester to leave the Scarlets a point clear at the top of their pool.

Rupert Moon helped to turn the game in the Welsh club's favour in the final quarter when he came on as a replacement, and Wales stand off Stephen Jones helped himself to 21 points. Newport's hopes of reaching the last eight were left hanging in the balance after they were trounced 43-21 in France by Castres. A week after pipping the French side by a point with an injury-time penalty, Gary Teichmann's men were out-scored by five tries to two in a game that saw the skipper, Irish wing Matt Mostyn and Italian full back Matt Pini all pick up injuries. 'The competition is so good and we are learning all the time,' said Newport's director of rugby, Allan Lewis. 'What's more, we are far from out of it.' Pontypridd went down 27-19 to Leicester at Welford Road, meaning they must beat Pau at home and Glasgow away to have any hope of qualifying.