Harlequins burgle Galway Sportsground

Jarvis penalty gets Quins running in Challenge Cup

An injury-time penalty goal from Adrian Jarvis gave Harlequins a nail-biting 19-18 European Challenge Cup win over Connacht in Galway on Friday.

Jarvis, replacing injured All Black legend Andrew Mehrtens, kicked four penalty goals and the extras to Tom Williams' try as the London side sneaked home 19-18 at the Sportsground.

Connacht inside centre John Hearty opened the scoring with a try in the eighth minute, converted by Paul Warwick, but three penalty goals from Jarvis gave the London visitors a one-point match at the break.

Winger Williams scored early in the second half, but a try from home backrower Colm Rigney gave his side the lead before Jarvis' 82-minute heroics.

In Newport, the Dragons stamped their mark on the competition with a dominant 50-3 victory over French club Bayonne.

Ceri Sweeney edged his side ahead with an eighth-minute penalty goal, before former Wales skipper Michael Owen powered over for a try on the quarter mark to give the home team a handy 10-0 lead.

Sweeney banged over two penalty goals before an increasingly desperate French side found their way on to the scoreboard with a Jon Iturriria dropped goal.

Visiting lock Cedric Bergez and home second-rower Ian Gough were sent to the bin for excessive force at the ruck in the 34th minute, and Bayonne went down to 13 men when hooker Arnaud Heguy was shown the yellow card.

Two more Sweeney goals, the second a conversion of a penalty try, gave the Dragons a healthy 26-3 lead at the break, and Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper's early second-half try put the match beyond doubt.

Tries to winger Richard Fussell, backrower Nic Fitesemanu and replacement Mike Hercus simply added to the French side's woes.

In France, Brive beat Montauban 26-13 on the back of three second-half penalty goals from Italian international Luciano Orquera.

Montauban prop Avtandil Kopaliani, a Georgia international, gave the home side an early lead with a try.

But his opposite front-rower, Romanian Test star Petrisor Toderasc, levelled the scores before centre Nicolas Couttet crossed and Orquera found his range with four penalties.

Newcastle Falcons ran riot as expected over Italian minnows Padova, scoring seven tries.

England centre Mathew Tait scored two, as did wing John Rudd, while Toby Flood, Ollie Phillips and Mike McCarthy each weighed in with a score.

Flood converted six and added a penalty.

Bath overcame a tough challenge in Montpellier, beating the Heraults 21-14 with a dogged performance.