RUGBY UNION: Swansea save face for Principality

Welsh clubs were embarrassed in the new European Conference, the second-tier European event, when six of the principality's seven teams all went down to opening-day defeats.

The exceptions were the National League leaders, Swansea, who ran up the biggest score of the day with a 63-38 victory over London Irish.

Centre Robert Henderson's hat-trick for the Irish was in vain as the All Whites romped to an 11-try success, Colin Charvis and Simon Davies each touching down twice.

But elsewhere it was a familiar tale of woe, with Dunvant, Newport, Newbridge, Treorchy, Bridgend and Ebbw Vale all losing.

The lone Scottish representatives, Glasgow, went within a point of matching Swansea's mark, Derek Stark scoring four tries to help his side to a 62-38 victory at Newbridge.

Yesterday's only match saw visiting Northampton edge past Toulon 38-29 in Pool C in front of a 6,500 crowd.