Harlequins earn their stripes with bonus point win over Zebre

ROUND-UP:Harlequins are six points clear in Pool 3 following a facile 57-14 victory over Italian side Zebre at the Stadio XXV, Aprile. The English side scored eight tries in the bonus point win and will look to do a further demolition job when the Italians hit London this weekend.

‘Quins Director of Rugby Conor O’Shea admitted: “It’s one of those ones where you’re dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. It’s about being in with a shout come April and May. You can do an unprofessional job and cause yourself problems which eventually come home to roost. But I was pleased that we did a professional job in very difficult conditions. To score eight tries against a team that stubborn is no mean feat.”

Scarlets head coach and former Ireland international flanker Simon Easterby expressed concern after Rhys Priestland was stretchered off with an Achilles injury in the disappointing 22-16 defeat against the Exeter Chiefs at Parc y Scarlets. “We won’t know the extent of that until he has a scan. But it didn’t look good.

“Aaron Shingler suffered a groin injury and he’s been carrying that for a couple of weeks. Hopefully he will come through but that didn’t look great either.” The Scarlets have no lost all three matches and go to Sandy Park this week with nothing more than pride at stake.

Toulouse must await medical reports on Luke McAlister (muscle tear) and centre Florian Fritz (sprained right ankle) after both were injured in the 30-14 win over the Ospreys at the Stade Earnest Wallon.

A Sale Sharks side for whom Tony Buckley started at tighthead prop could not hold off a Toulon team as the French side eked out a 17-6 win in Manchester to keep them top of the group.

Leicester Tigers had the bonus point wrapped up before half-time at home to Benetton Treviso but had to ensure a great second half from the Italian side before claiming a 33-25 victory at Welford Road.

In yesterday’s early kickoff, Cardiff Blues had scrumhalf Lloyd Williams sent off for a tip tackle in their 35-24 defeat to Montpellier.