Leeds poised for Ponty battle

Leeds and Pontypridd are set for a battle royal in December after they were drawn against each other in the Parker Pen Challenge Cup's second-round ties yesterday.

Leeds saw off Petrarca Padova 52-13 in their first round, second leg tie at Headingley yesterday, with the Argentinian full-back Diego Albanese producing an outstanding performance despite not scoring any of the Yorkshire club's seven tries, which afforded them an 81-36 aggregate victory.

The scrum-half Alan Dickens and winger Craig Emmerson claimed two tries apiece, and the Scotland fly-half Gordon Ross added the icing on the cake in the form of seven conversions and a penalty goal. The Italian side were right in the match at only 10-17 down at half-time, but could add only a Sebastien Francesio penalty goal in the second 40 minutes as Leeds found their rhythm.

Wasps had few problems disposing of their first-round opponents, Parma, winning 42-0 in the second leg at Adams Park. Lawrence Dallaglio scored two tries in a comprehensive seven-try mauling. Wasps claimed an 82-24 aggregate victory and now play Bordeaux-Bègles in the second round.

A second half hat-trick of tries from the England wing Michael Stephenson was the highlight of Newcastle's 33-17 win over Grenoble at Kingston Park, giving them a 52-29 win on aggregate and a meeting with Treviso in the next round.

"Our league form has been good in patches and the big thing were trying to shake off is this 'win one, lose one' attitude," said Stephenson.

The draw to decide who has home advantage in the first leg of first-round Shield matches will take place in Dublin today, with the order of the Challenge Cup ties being determined tomorrow.

PARKER PEN DRAWS

CHALLENGE CUP

Second round: Newcastle Falcons v Treviso; Colomiers v Saracens; Montauban v Borders; Bath v Bridgend; Wasps v Bordeaux-Bègles; Harlequins v Stade Français; Narbonne v Connacht; Leeds v Pontypridd.

SHIELD

First Round: Grenoble v Castres; L'Aquila v Dinamo Bucharest; Ebbw Vale v Madrid; GRAN Parma v Pau; Parma v La Moraleja; Caerphilly v Rovigo; Silea v Mont de Marsan; Padova v Roma.

Two-legged ties to be played on 6-8 and 13-15 December. Order of Challenge Cup ties to be decided today; order of Shield ties to be decided tomorrow.