Leinster kicked off the PRO14 action with a comfortable bonus-point win over Zebre before Scarlets saw off Glasgow in Llanelli.
Elsewhere, Benetton and the Cheetahs left it late to defeat the Dragons and Cardiff Blues respectively while Munster won at the Kings.
Leinster 41-6 Zebre
Conference B pacesetters Leinster made it triumph number 14 in the PRO14 as they easily dispatched Zebre, winning 41-6 at the RDS.
The Irish side had the match sewn up by the break as they crossed three times, with the second-half all about wrapping up the bonus-point.
James Lowe, Rory O'Loughlin and Max Deegan were the try-scorers in the first period, with Carlo Canna's penalties making it a 17-6 buffer.
And the fourth try arrived on the hour mark for the hosts in Dublin, as number eight Deegan crossed for his brace to complete the maximum.
Leinster weren't done there though as Lowe also grabbed a second late on before replacement Vakh Abdaladze and Bryan Byrne also scored.
For Zebre this is their 14th negative of this PRO14 campaign as they remain rooted to the foot of the Conference A table after 18 matches.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Tries: Lowe 2, O'Loughlin, Deegan 2, Abdaladze, B Byrne
Cons: R Byrne 3
For Zebre:
Pens: Canna 2
Leinster: 15 Barry Daly, 14 Adam Byrne, 13 Rory O’Loughlin, 12 Conor O’Brien, 11 James Lowe, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Max Deegan, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Mick Kearney, 4 Devin Toner (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 James Tracy, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Vakh Abdaladze, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Peadar Timmins, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Ciarán Frawley, 23 Gavin Mullin
Zebre: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Gabriele Di Giulio, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Faialaga Afamasaga, 11 Mattia Bellini, 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 David Sisi, 7 Jacopo Sarto, 6 Valerio Bernabò, 5 George Biagi (c), 4 Leonard Krumov, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Roberto Tenga, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Cruze Ah-Nau, 19 Eduardo Bello, 20 Luhandre Luus, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Serafin Bordoli, 23 Giovanbattista Venditti
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Dan Jones (Wales), Simon Rees (Wales)
Television match official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Scarlets 26-8 Glasgow Warriors
Scarlets inflicted only a third PRO14 defeat on Glasgow as they managed to see off the Warriors 26-8 at the Parc y Scarlets on Saturday.
It was a hard-fought victory for the Welsh region, who have stayed in touch with Leinster at the summit of Conference B with this home win.
A low-scoring first-half saw Scarlets go in 8-0 to the good thanks to Rhys Patchell's try in the 28th minute and a Leigh Halfpenny penalty.
But in the second period they managed to pull clear as Gareth Davies, the boot of Halfpenny and a second Patchell try saw them prevail.
Glasgow, who remain 12 points clear at the Conference A summit, did give themselves a chance of turning things around when scrum-half Henry Pyrgos crossed on 62 minutes to make it 19-8. But they were well beaten in the end as Scarlets claimed a key victory in Llanelli.
The scorers:
For Scarlets:
Tries: Patchell 2, G Davies
Cons: Halfpenny
Pens: Halfpenny 3
For Glasgow:
Try: Pyrgos
Pen: Horne
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Ioan Nicholas, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Steve Cummins, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 Will Boyde, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Steff Hughes
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson (c), 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Siua Halanukonuka, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Lelia Masaga
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Gywn Morris (Wales)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Benetton 29-27 Dragons
Benetton’s Tito Tebaldi snatched a 29-27 victory for his side at the Stadio Monigo.
A penalty inside two minutes soon produced the perfect start for Benetton. Winning the line-out, Federico Ruzza was driven over the line for a dream opening. The extras from Tommaso Allan gave the Dragons a challenge from the off, though a quick-fire penalty reduced the lead down to 7-3. A second kick, again from Arwel Robson, left Benetton’s lead down at just a solitary point.
A five-minute spell before the half-hour mark gave the Italian side full control though, with two more tries taking the lead to double figures. The first of the two came from Monty Ioane, coming after Tommaso Benvenuti was held up just short. And five minutes later, Allan got the third. The kicker’s two conversion in the half resulted in a hefty 19-6 before the break. And the bonus point was wrapped up right on 40 minutes, Tebaldi going through for the deserved 26-6 lead.
Dragons had something to cheer 10 minutes into the second half when their first try arrived. Rynard Landman provided some hope by cutting the lead in half, but they still looked well short of building any sort of fightback.
The visitors were improving though and cut the gap down to just six with their second try of the night. Jared Rosser found the space to go through with 20 minutes still to play, Robson again making no mistake with the kick. Dragons then completed the shock turnaround with 15 minutes remaining with a third converted try. Connor Edwards shook the hosts with the third Dragons effort, but that jubilation turned to desperation at full-time.
The 81st minute produced Benetton’s pivotal moment with the final kick of the game. The Dragons were penalised as the Italians piled the pressure on and Tebaldi kept his nerve to record the two-point 29-27 win.
The scorers:
For Benetton:
Tries: Ruzza, Ioane, Allan, Tebaldi
Cons: Allan 3
Pen: Tebaldi
For Dragons:
Tries: Hill, Rosser, Edwards
Cons: Robson 3
Pens: Robson 2
Benetton: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Luca Sperandio, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (c), 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Abraham Steyn, 6 Marco Barbini, 5 Marco Lazzaroni, 4 Federico Ruzza, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Tomas Baravalle, 1 Federico Zani
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Sebastian Negri, 21 Nasi Manu, 22 Tommaso Iannone, 23 Marty Banks
Dragons: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Connor Edwards, 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Owain Leonard, 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Aaron Wainwright, 6 Harrison Keddie, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Cory Hill (c), 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Gerard Ellis
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Luke Garrett, 18 Dan Suter, 19 Joe Davies, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Adam Warren, 23 Rio Dyer
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Joy Neville (Ireland), Robert O'Sullivan (Ireland)
Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Cheetahs 29-27 Cardiff Blues
A last-minute penalty try robbed Cardiff Blues as Cheetahs stole a 29-27 win in Bloemfontein.
A quickfire penalty from Gareth Anscombe was soon equalled by the hosts’ Niel Marais in a first half that Cheetahs were to be the better side. Winger Sibhale Maxane found the line following a disjointed line-out from the Blues, Clayton Blommetjies feeding Maxane for 8-3.
Blommetjies soon found himself in the sin-bin after deliberate knock on, with the subsequent penalty from Anscombe reducing the gap back down to a couple of points. Cheetahs didn’t let the lack of men affect them though as they recorded the second try midway through the half. Francois Venter made the most of an attacking position and capitalised on a slip by Alex Cuthbert, Marais making it 15-6.
Cardiff Blues' half was to get worse when Owen Lane saw yellow for a push, and the Cheetahs took full control of his indiscretion by sending Maxane through for his second of the match.
The Blues recovered quickly after the break and the returning Lane made up for his yellow card with a try. Steve Shingler added two to cut the lead down to 22-13. And things got even more interesting right on the hour with a second try. Willis Halaholo had just saved the Blues from conceding a fourth, and at the other end he played the major role as he cut the gap down to just two points.
And the turnaround was completed with 10 minutes left to play. Cardiff Blues had come out of the second half rejuvenated, and Halaholo combined with Rey Lee-Lo, the latter finding the line and Shingler adding the two for 27-22. Cardiff lost Cuthbert for the final few minutes to a yellow card, and that almost proved pivotal. A late scare from the TMO produced a penalty from close range, but Cheetahs picked up the penalty try right at the death to break Blues' hearts and secure a 29-27 win.
The scorers:
For Cheetahs:
Tries: Maxwane 2, Venter, Penalty try
Cons: Marais 2
Pen: Marais
Yellow Card: Blommetjies
For Cardiff Blues:
Tries: Lane, Halaholo, Lee-Lo
Cons: Shingler 3
Pens: Anscombe 2
Yellow Cards: Lane, Cuthbert
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Francois Venter (c), 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Sibhale Maxane, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Johan Coetzee, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Erich de Jager, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 AJ Coertzen
Cardiff Blues: 15 Matthew Morgan, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Garyn Smith, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Owen Lane, 10 Gareth Anscombe (c), 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Olly Robinson, 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Damian Welch, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rhys Gill
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Rey Lee-Lo
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
Southern Kings 22-39 Munster
It was a slow opening but Munster took the lead on 17 minutes, with the always reliable boot of Ian Keatley putting Munster three to the good.
But the Kings were the better side in the first half an hour and a yellow card to Gerbrandt Grobler quickly set the hosts on their way to the first try. The extra man allowed Andisa Ntsila to make the most of space out wide and go over. Masixole Banda added two and was soon preparing for another as Kings got their second try.
Stephan Greeff again capitalised only three minutes after the opening try, 12-3 the advantage on the half hour. A Banda penalty stretched that further but Munster’s first try reduced the arrears.
Niall Scannell went through from short after getting the extra man back, and it was quickly followed by a second. Calvin Nash went on a wonderful solo mission, dummying his way around Kings bodies and cutting the half-time score to 15-13 in the hosts' favour.
Rejuvenated from the late rally, Munster took charge after the break. Their lead came from CJ Stander eight minutes into the half, and try number four saw Kings blown away. Rory Scannell’a pass sent Dan Goggin through for a deserved 25-15 lead.
Rhys Marshall increases the advantage with the fifth try, for a 32-15 the lead. Kilcoyne made the lead even bigger, with a late consolation from Michael Makasa finishing it at 39-22.
The scorers:
For Kings:
Tries: Ntsila, Greeff, Makase
Cons: Banda 2
Pen: Banda
For Munster:
Tries: N Scannell, Nash, Stander, Goggin, Marshall, Kilcoyne
Cons: Keatley 3
Pen: Keatley
Yellow Card: Grobler
Southern Kings: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Michael Makase, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Berton Klaasen, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Martin du Toit, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Martinus Burger, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Schalk Ferreira (c)
Replacements: 16 Alandre Van Rooyen, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Luvuyo Pupuma, 19 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 20 Lusanda Badiyana, 21 Rudi Van Rooyen, 22 Ntabeni Dukisa, 23 Luzuko Vulindlu
Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Dan Goggin, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 James Hart, 8 CJ Stander (c), 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Dave O’Callaghan, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 James Cronin
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 David Kilcoyne, 18 Brian Scott, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Jack Stafford, 22 Stephen Fitzgerald, 23 Robin Copeland
Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Ruhan Meiring (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
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