HEINEKEN CUP POOL SIX Celtic Warriors (6) 16 Tries: Penalty try Con: N Jenkins Pens: N Jenkins 3 Perpignan (12) 15 Pens: Edmonds 3 DGs: Edmonds 2 Att: 6,000

Referee Giulio De Santis awarded the Warriors an 80th-minute penalty try after incessant pressure on Perpignan.

It was left to world record Test points-scorer Neil Jenkins to slot the match-winning conversion.

Perpignan had led 15-9 for most of the second half, but were punished after killing possession.

It completed a frustrating second period for the French side, as they had captain Bernard Goutta and full-back Frederic Cermeno sin-binned following technical infringements.

There was mayhem during the closing minutes of injury time, when it appeared Perpignan had 15 players on the pitch even though Cermeno was still sin-binned.

Perpignan had controlled much of the match through the tactical mastery of their Australian fly-half Manuel Edmonds.

I thought the players were heroic in the way they put their bodies on the line Warriors coach Lynn Howells

Edmonds kicked two drop goals and three penalties, while Jenkins slotted 11 points for the Warriors.

But Edmonds was powerless to prevent the gripping finale that sent a 6,000-strong crowd wild.

When Cermeno departed five minutes from time, there was no hint of the conclusion to follow.

But De Santis ran out of patience with Perpignan's offenders, allowing Jenkins a chance to clinch victory that he gratefully accepted.

Perpignan are still top of the group, but only on try count above the Warriors, whose last match is away at Italian minnows Calvisano next weekend, when they will target a five-point maximum.

English champions Wasps though, can put themselves in pole position by defeating Calvisano on Sunday.

It would leave Lawrence Dallaglio and company needing a victory in Perpignan on Sunday week to win the Pool and secure a quarter-final place.

Warriors: G Wyatt; D James, S Parker, G Thomas, A Havili; N Jenkins, G Cooper; G Jenkins, M Davies, C Horsman, D Jones, R Sidoli, M Molitika, C Harris, R Parks.
Replacements: M Rees, C Loader, G Morris, N Kelly, S Martens, E Lewis, J Bryant.

Perpignan: F Cermeno; P Bomati, P Giordani, C Manas, D Luger; M Edmonds, J Loustau; P Freshwater, M Koniekiewicz, F Tournaire, C Gaston, R Alvarez Kairelis, G Le Corvec, B Goutta (capt), M O'Driscoll.
Replacements: N Grelon, N Mas, V Debaty, L Mallier, Fillol, Labat, Marty.

Referee: Giulio de Santis (Italy)