European Cup Review: Richard Haughton scored a treble as Saracens produced a superb 10-try 71-7 victory against Italian side Viadana in their Heineken Cup clash at Vicarage Road today.
Sarries number 10 Glen Jackson was once again the star of the show, scoring 25 points, which included a second-half touchdown, as Alan Gaffney's men ran riot.
Saracens have made a bright start to Pool Four, with a bonus point win over Glasgow and a narrow bonus point loss to Biarritz in the opening weeks.
And with All Blacks lock Chris Jack and South African full-back Brent Russell both making their debuts, they took another giant stride towards quarter-final qualification against Viadana.
Census Johnson, Richard Hill, Masi Matadigo and Kameli Ratuvou (2) also went over for tries while Calvin Howarth was the only scorer for the visitors.
Defending champions Wasps were denied a losing bonus point after Aurelien Rougerie scored a last-minute try for Clermont Auvergne, who won the clash 37-27.
After trailing by 20-10 at half-time, Wasps staged an impressive comeback and tries for Tim Payne and James Haskell - the flanker's second of the game - put Ian McGeechan's side 24-23 ahead after 50 minutes.
However, Clermont fly-half Brock James was immaculate in his kicking, and his four second-half penalties put his side well in control.
Danny Cipriani held his nerve to kick a long penalty and put Wasps back into contention for a bonus point just two minutes later, and when Tom Voyce kicked for the corner with one minute left to play, Wasps supporters may have dared to think an historic win was within reach.
However the line-out was not cleanly taken, and although Wasps kept possession and the ball in hand, they were forced back into their own half.
When the ball rolled out of the back of a ruck, Clermont pounced and spun the ball wide for their captain Rougerie to go over in the corner and snatch a five-point win for his team.
Newport Gwent Dragons secured their first win of this season's competition but were forced to dig deep during the 35-33 victory against Treviso Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
Newport appeared to have the game in the bag when Richard Mustoe clinched the bonus-point fourth try within two minutes of the second half.
But the Italian champions produced a rousing response, taking the lead through Marius Goosen before Ceri Sweeney finally sealed the Dragons' win seven minutes from time.
Bristol kept their European show on the road on a foul day at the Twickenham Stoop with a 17-3 victory which ended Harlequins' chances of qualification for the quarter-finals.
That dream is still very much alive for Bristol, who picked up where they left off after their home win over Stade Francais with a typically dogged forward display in what was a must-win game for both sides.
The visitors scored three tries with Alfie To'oala, Luke Arscott and David Lemi all going over while Quins' only points came from the boot of Danny Care.
Last night Gloucester continued their march towards European success with an emphatic 31-7 defeat of Bourgoin in France - but victory came at a cost.
They lost three internationals to injury in the second half, with England's Mike Tindall and Olly Morgan and Scotland's Chris Paterson forced off with leg, shoulder and rib problems respectively.
Iain Balshaw also had a spell off with a cut shin, but was able to return.
The disruption, in conjunction with a hailstorm, had Gloucester reeling in the third quarter of the game.
They conceded one try to flanker Julien Frier, converted by Benjamin Boyet, but their defence held under considerable pressure and they finished the game off with a try that stamped their authority on the contest.
Having broken the shackles and made it back to Bourgoin's 22 in the final minute of the game, replacement hooker Andy Titterrell was sent over for a try, converted by Lamb, to secure the Kingsholm club's third win - and second bonus point - from three games.
In the same pool, the Ospreys gained an important bonus-point victory in their quest for a quarter-final place, seeing off Ulster 48-17.
Gavin Henson's absence mattered little as early tries from centre Sonny Parker and scrum-half Justin Marshall meant there was danger of Ospreys slipping up.
It was game, set and match inside 50 minutes as further tries by lock Alun-Wyn Jones and skipper Filo Tiatia guaranteed the Ospreys' maximum points to stay in touch with Gloucester.
Wing Nikki Walker added a fifth touchdown before full-back Lee Byrne and Walker again completed Ulster's misery, with fly-half James Hook booting five conversions and a penalty.
In Pool Six, Leinster beat Edinburgh 28-14 to move up to second in group but they were denied a bonus point by a determined second-half display from the Scots.
Boosted by a packed-out RDS, Leinster were lethal off first-phase ball in the opening half and turned the game in their favour with tries from back-row duo Jamie Heaslip and Keith Gleeson.
However, Edinburgh stuck to their task and closed the gap to 21-14 thanks to a John Houston try and a penalty each from Phil Godman and David Blair.
Leinster wrestled back some control to put man-of-the-match Felipe Contepomi over for a 72nd-minute clincher but their search for a fourth try proved to be in vain.
