PONTYPRIDD maintained their 100 per cent record in the European Cup with an impressive win over Bath, while Llanelli overcame tempestuous French side Pau for a second win to maintain Welsh interest in the competition.
Cardiff lost to tournament favourites Toulouse but they also still have a solid chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages.
Bath's defeat was one of two for English clubs with Wasps now virtually out after a second loss - this time in Limerick to powerful Munster.
There were some surprises in these results - but what was totally predictable were the outbreaks of violence by French teams.
One London coach stated before the tournament began that it would be wise to practice with boxing gloves in preparation for the French fixtures.
And fists and boots were indeed dominant as Pau lived up to the prediction in losing at Llanelli.
English referee Steve Lauder, who always seems to land controversial games, dismissed Nicolas Bacque for punching and Frederic Torossian for kicking. Also sent off was Llanelli's Iwan Jones.
Bacque was suspended for 30 days and Torossian for 60 days - the recommended minimum bans for their offences, while Jones was also banned for 60 days.
Toulouse hooker Patrick Soula made it a hat trick of disgrace for French players by stamping after an earlier yellow card and was dismissed.
Yet Toulouse played some breathtaking rugby to confirm their favourites status with Thomas Castaignede collecting 18 points, including all four methods of scoring.
Bath made the mistake of giving Pontypridd's Neil Jenkins - one of the world's top kickers - enough penalties to win their pool A match.
The English champions conceded a flood of penalties and were always going to be in trouble if their weakened side could not compensate with tries in return. The Bath v Dax fixture next weekend now becomes the key to that group.
Angry Bath rugby director John Hall said: "We were almost clueless at times. It could have been a lot worse for us. We needed a huge pack performance and passion. We didn't get either."
Leicester, in Llanelli's pool B, and Harlequins, runaway leaders of pool C, took chances on their choice of goal-kickers and survived - despite rough displays from Rob Liley and Will Carling respectively.
Leicester, reportedly interested in signing victorious World Cup captain Francois Pienaar after his recent omission from the South Africa squad, saw coach Bob Dwyer decide to let John Liley concentrate solely on full-back play.
But his brother Rob showed that he is not in John's class with a flood of inaccuracies against Scottish Borders until he collected a string of comparatively easy conversions in a 43-3 success that symbolised Scottish sides' struggles in the event.
England coach Jack RoweIl turned up to watch Harlequins' experiment of giving Carling the stand-off and goal-kicking job.
Rowell would not comment afterwards, but cannot have been impressed as Carling managed only two from nine attempts in the 44-22 win over Neath.
In Pool D Begles beat London Irish 32-6.
In the European Conference, meanwhile, Northampton, Swansea and Agen lead their groups with three wins each.
Newcastle demolished Moseley 75-9 in Courage League Two and Rob Andrew did his bit for England by carrying out Rowell's request that in big victories Tim Stimpson should be given some of the goal-kicking responsibilities.
The man predicted to make his England debut in five weeks against Italy warmed up for the England kicking job with seven conversions.
