As the Guinness PRO12 clubs now turn their attention to Europe, Connacht moved to the Top of the table by recording a 5th consecutive league win for the 1st time since 2002 – beating Benetton Treviso 33 / 19 underneath the Friday night lights at the Sportsground.

Robbie Henshaw made his breakthrough at fullback and in his 1st game for Connacht since returning from the Rugby World Cup he was back in the No 15 shirt, dotting down for 1 of his side’s 3 tries as Matt Healy and Tom McCartney notched the others.

Jayden Hayward crossed twice for Treviso and Edoardo Gori grabbed another try at the death but the Italians still slipped to a 14th consecutive Guinness PRO12 defeat.

Munster are up to 2nd in the table after an early try from John Ryan helped them to a dramatic and hard-fought 16 / 14 victory over Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield.

Will Helu scored his 1st try for the hosts and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne saw his attempted drop goal charged down in the 3rd minute of injury time as Munster held on.

At the RDS Arena Ian Madigan kicked 14 points as Leinster handed the Scarlets a 1st loss of the season, triumphing 19 / 15.

Scarlets’ centre duo Gareth Owen and Hadleigh Parkes bagged a try apiece but Mike Ross crossed the whitewash for his 1st PRO12 score as the hosts remain 4th.

Ulster finally ended their away hoodoo as Paul Marshall grabbed the only try of game in a 19 / 12 win over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade – their 1st league win on the road since April.

Elsewhere, Glasgow Warriors also secured an away victory by downing Cardiff Blues 35 / 30 in a thriller at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park – Finn Russell booting 15 points while Ryan Grant, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray and Taqele Naiyaravoro all dotted down.

And Eli Walker’s try double helped Ospreys collect just their 2nd Guinness PRO12 win of the season as they touched down 6 times in total during a 36 / 3 romp over Zebre.

TRY OF THE WEEKEND:

Edinburgh ended up losing by 2 points to Munster at BT Murrayfield but Will Helu rounded off a magnificent team move for the try of the weekend.  Damien Hoyland made the initial break off the right wing and after spreading the ball left, Tom Brown cut in before slipping a reverse pass to Helu who held off a defender and stretched out for his 1st Edinburgh try.

BREAK OF THE WEEKEND:

No-one has ever accused Matt Healy of being slow on the field and the Connacht winger once again demonstrated his raw pace in a scintillating break during their 33 / 19 win over Treviso.  Healy collected the ball on halfway blitzed past poor Andrea Pratichetti down the outside before producing a nice shimmy and cutting inside to dot down for the Irish side’s 3rd try as they moved to the Top of the table.

PLAY OF THE WEEKEND:

Josh Matavesi had a sterling game for Ospreys against Zebre, scoring 1 try and creating another in the 36 / 3 victory.

And it was the latter which earns him play of the weekend as he scythed through the Zebre defensive line before delivering a pinpoint, no-look pass to Justin Tipuric for the score.

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND:

Leone Nakarawa shone for Fiji at the recent Rugby World Cup and if his performance in Glasgow Warriors’ 35 / 30 win over Cardiff Blues is anything to go by, he has brought that form into the Guinness PRO12.

The lock was imperious at the lineout, a warrior at the breakdown and a constant danger in the loose as he also grabbed the Warriors’ 1st try of the match – launching himself from the back of a ruck to touch down with 1 hand.

RESULTS AND HIGHLIGHTS:

Connacht 33 / 19 Benetton Treviso:

Leinster 19 / 15 Scarlets:

Ospreys 36 / 3 Zebre:

Cardiff Blues 30 / 35 Glasgow Warriors:

Edinburgh 14 / 16 Munster:

Newport Gwent Dragons 12 / 19 Ulster:

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