Heineken Cup round-up:Leicester suffered an emphatic 40-30 defeat after Clermont secured a bonus point success at Stade Marcel Michelin. A late Tigers flurry amid the snow showers — converted tries for centre Anthony Allen, outhalf Toby Flood and substitute Jeremy Staunton — could not disguise Clermont's dominance.
And such was the French club’s control, they will be favourites for a repeat Pool Three victory in next Saturday’s Welford Road return fixture.
Leicester, European champions in 2001 and 2002 and five-time Heineken finalists, are now three points off the pace being set in their group by Clermont and the Ospreys.
Clermont turned up the heat on a freezing afternoon, scoring tries through wing Napolini Nalaga (two), flanker Alexandre Lapandry, scrum-half Morgan Parra and lock Jamie Cudmore.
Outhalf Brock James kicked 12 points and fullback Anthony Floch dropped a goal, while Leicester conjured three tries during the closing 10 minutes and three Flood penalties.
It was the first time in Heineken Cup history that Leicester conceded 40 points, and defeat next weekend would nudge them perilously close to the exit door.
They have only failed to secure last-eight status once during the past five seasons, but the pressure has now been piled on them.
The Tigers rallied manfully during the closing stages, outscoring Clermont 21-5 after being 35-9 adrift, but it was a case of being too little, too late.
Leicester frantically searched for two losing bonus points, and one final counter-attack almost produced it, yet Clermont kept them out at the end of a closing quarter when they mentally switched off.
Clermont were not the only French team to turn on the style as Biarritzblitzed the Newport Gwent Dragons49-13 at Parc des Sports Aguilera to confirm their credentials as major contenders for the top prize in European club rugby this season.
The French side, beaten finalists three years ago, opened up a nine-point gap as Pool Two leaders ahead of next Friday’s return fixture in Newport.
Biarritz battered the Dragons into submission up front, and they claimed a bonus-point try just after half-time when England back Iain Balshaw touched down for the first of his double.
Wing Takudzwa Ngwenya, scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili and substitute Valentin Courrent also crossed, while there was a penalty try and seven successful kicks from Yachvili, who finished with 22 points, before Courrent slotted the final conversion.
The shell-shocked Dragons had to content themselves with a consolation score by centre Tom Riley, while outhalf James Arlidge kicked the conversion and two penalties.
It was the Dragons’ heaviest Heineken Cup defeat since they crashed 37-0 to Stade Francais in 2003.
Bathclung on to claim their first victory of this year's competition as they saw off Edinburgh16-9 at The Rec.
They still need to win all their remaining games, and get help from elsewhere, to progress from a Pool Four that looks to be a straight shootout between Ulster and Stade Francais.
First-half tries from Pieter Dixon and Michael Stephenson provided the platform for only Bath’s third victory in all competitions this season.
Nicky Little kicked his second penalty in the 72nd minute but Bath only just held on in a frantic last five minutes.
Saleblew a massive hole in Harlequins'campaign as they won a thrilling encounter 29-19 at The Stoop .
Victory revives Sale’s hopes, but three defeats leave Quins rock bottom of Pool Five and requiring a miracle to reach the quarter-finals.
Tries from Dwayne Peel and Nick Macleod, both converted by Charlie Hodgson gave the visitors an early 14-0 lead.
Nick Evans replied for Quins with their first five-pointer only for David Seymour to touch down for Sale.
Harlequins managed to prevent a fourth touchdown from the visitors’ fourth attack on their line in the 34th minute and soon after minutes Quins were back in contention, scoring an absolute beauty through David Strettle to leave the home side trailing 12-24 at the break.
Nick Easter got over for a try four minutes after the break, but yet again Sale smashed straight back yet again with a candidate for try of the season.
Mark Cueto’s inside pass to Hodgson saw the outhalf bemuse the defence before passing inside to Seymour.
He moved the ball on, with David Bishop playing in Mathew Tait who sent Ben Cohen flying in on the left for his 33rd European try in both competitions — and a four-try bonus point for his club.
Tom Williams replaced George Lowe after 66 minutes, his first Heineken Cup action since faking a blood injury to his mouth in last season’s home quarter-final defeat by Leinster.
