HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6 Perpignan (14) 26 Tries: C Porcu, L Mallier, D Marty, R Alvarez-Kairelis Cons: M Edmonds (3) Warriors (3) 19 Tries: K Morgan Con: C Sweeney Pens: Sweeney (2), N Jenkins (2) Att: 10,000

Perpignan's juggernaut pack proved just enough to overcome the brave Welsh side at the Stade Aim� Giral.

But the Warriors maintained the battling traditions of Pontypridd and Bridgend in Europe, recovering from a 14-point deficit to claim a bonus point and leave the result in doubt until the last move of the game.

First-half tries from Christophe Porcu and Lionel Mallier gave the French the advantage, but an adventurous second-half from the visitors saw Kevin Morgan get them back in the game with a try.

The Warriors were within two points as the game entered injury time, but a David Marty score and a last-minute try from Rimas Alvarez-Kairelis secured a bonus-point win for last season's finalists.

The Warriors competed well in a scoreless opening quarter as the two sides felt each other out.

For a time in the second half we could and should have taken the game away from Perpignan Warriors coach Lynn Howells

The physical French targeted fly-half Ceri Sweeney and the Warriors' injury-ravaged front row, props Gethin Jenkins and Christian Loader soon emerging bloodied and bruised from the forward exchanges.

It was the feared Perpignan rolling maul that broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute.

A Manny Edmonds chip to the corner forced Kevin Morgan to concede a line-out and the huge French pack did the rest, driving relentlessly forward and dropping lock Chritophe Porcu over the try line.

The increasingly dominant Perpignan scrum was proving the decisive area, sapping the Warriors' strength and disrupting any possession won by the visitors.

Dan Luger was denied a try by a forward pass and scrum-half Ludovic Loustau was held up over the line after a stunning passage of play.

Morgan's try set up a thrilling second half

But just as the Warriors looked like hanging on until the break, repeated Perpignan attacks paid off when flanker Lionel Mallier plunged over from short range for the second try.

Edmonds added his second conversion, but on the half-time whistle Sweeney at last got the Warriors on the scoreboard with a penalty.

The score encouraged the Welsh side and they came out determined to run the ball at Perpignan, Sweeney leading the charge.

Five minutes of sustained attack were rewarded when quick ball was delivered to Sweeney, whose grubber kick through was gathered by Morgan for the visitors' try.

Another Sweeney penalty narrowed the gap to a point, but the shock wakened the French monster.

A huge driving maul took Perpignan to the visitors' 22 and when the ball was spun out centre David Marty profited from a half-gap to blast over for his side's third try.

We weren't suprised by the Warriors Perpignan scrum-half Ludovic Loustau

The Warriors brought on veteran fly-half Neil Jenkins, and the kicking legend got the Warriors back within touching distance with two penalties.

But the home pack got a grip on the ball and played out the remaining five minutes in the Welsh half.

They forced a penalty under the shadow of the Warriors' post, chose to scrummage, and the powerful Alvarez-Kairelis drove over for the fourth try.

Edmonds had the chance to deny the Warriors a bonus point with the final conversion, but the fly-half's kick sailed wide.

A bonus point away in France is not to be sniffed at From Matt Dee Join the Scrum V debate

"Pretty good efforts don't win the Heineken Cup, but the pleasing thing is to come to a hostile environment and claim a bonus point," said Warriors coach Lynn Howells.

"Our set-piece game must improve, but we've come together as a team over the last couple of weeks.

"We showed character - you can't teach that to a side - and for a time in the second half we could and should have taken the game away from Perpignan."

Perpignan scrum-half Ludovic Loustau said: "We haven't played at home for nearly two months and after a difficult game against Wasps last week, it was good to get back on track.

"We weren't suprised by the Warriors - they're a good team full of internationals and we all watched how well Wales went at the World Cup."

Perpignan: F Cermeno; P Bomati, D Marty, C Manas, D Luger; M Edmonds, L Loustau; P Freshwater, M Konieckiewicz, N Mas, C Gaston, C Porcu, J Labat, L Mallier, R Alvarez-Kairelis.
Rerplacements: N Grelon, F Tournaire, M O'Driscoll, G le Corvec, J Fillol, N Laharrague, D Janin, D Herbert.

Celtic Warriors: Kevin Morgan; Gareth Wyatt, Sonny Parker, Gareth Thomas (capt), Dafydd James; Ceri Sweeney, Sililo Martens; Christian Loader, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Brent Cockbain, Robert Sidoli, Maama Molitika, Richard Parks, Cory Harris.
Replacements: Christian Balshen, Geraint Morris, Deiniol Jones, Nathan Budgett, Paul John, Neil Jenkins, Jonathan Bryant.

Referee: Gregg Davies (Scotland)