A second try ofthe match from Argentine wing Sebastián Cancelliere in the final play secured abonus point 24-17 victory for Glasgow over the DHL Stormers at a rain-sweptScotstoun as they made it six wins on the trot in all competitions.

This was abattle between two in-form sides, with the visiting title-holders looking foran eighth straight win and it was nip and tuck all the way before Cancelliereran on to Sione Tuipulotu’s grubber kick to seal the spoils.

The Player ofthe Match award went to Tuipulotu’s centre partner Huw Jones who produced aclassy side-stepping score to cap a fine display against his former team. Scotlandinternational Jones said: “It was a special game against one of my old clubs. Iam really happy with that. I am loving it here. The exciting brand we areplaying is so exciting and we are really hitting our straps.”

Meanwhile, Vodacom United Rugby Championshipleaders Leinster were given a mighty scare by the Ospreys at the Swansea.comStadium, but survived one of their toughest tests of the season to make it 12wins out of 12 in the league. They weretrailing 16-10 going into the final quarter, having endured a torrid time atthe scrum, but they found another gear when it mattered to go in front throughtries from Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O’Brien and then held on at the death for a24-19 victory.

The Player ofthe Match award went to uncapped Ospreys centre Keiran Williams who produced amighty display in attack and defence to put his hand up for Wales squadselection.

Giving histhoughts, the 25-year-old Williams said: “Credit to Leinster. What a fantasticside they are. They were relentless and it’s really tough to play against them.It’s great to be that close to them and great for us to see where we are.Hopefully we can move forward from here.”

The VodacomBulls gave their unwell director of rugby Jake White a timely boost by claiminga 29-14 bonus point victory away to the Dragons. White wasn’t at Rodney Paradefor the game, having remained at the team hotel due to illness. In his absence,the Bulls pulled cleared after turning round with a narrow 17-14 lead, withtheir awesome scrum power proving decisive.

Munster thumpedthe Emirates Lions 33-3 in Cork with front row sub Scott Buckley touching downtwice, while another replacement hooker, Patrick Harrison, delivered thewinning score for Edinburgh two minutes from time as they left it late to beatZebre 24-17 at the Dam Health Stadium.

HALFPENNY DELIVERSIN FRONT OF GATLAND

TriumphantScarlets coach Dwayne Peel believes returning Wales boss Warren Gatland willhave been pleased by what he’s seen during the Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies over Christmasand New Year.

Gatland was atthe Arms Park on Saturday evening to see Peel’s team beat Cardiff Rugby 28-22amid an enthralling encounter in front of a crowd of 10,486.

It was one ofthe Kiwi coach’s regulars from his first time in charge of Wales that provedthe difference between the sides in a game that brought three tries apiece.

The 34-year-oldLeigh Halfpenny kicked 13 points to add to the 18 he landed in the New Year’sDay victory over the Dragons as he once again proved he’s still a match winner.

His fivesuccessful shots added to tries from Dane Blacker, Johnny McNicholl andJonathan Davies, with Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Carre and Josh Adams crossing forCardiff in a fluctuating contest that saw a number of Wales Six Nations squadcontenders play their part.

Peel commented:“I think Warren would have been pleased with the intensity of the game. All thederbies have had that intensity. That’s good for Welsh rugby.”

The Scarlets’21-cap fly-half Rhys Patchell, who has been plagued by injuries in recentyears, was among the men to stake a strong claim in front of Gatland. “I thinkthat was Rhys’ best game for a while,” said Peel. “He took the line on which issomething we’ve encouraged him to do more. He’s a big man, so he needs to berunning at the line and he did that.”

After winningjust one of their first nine matches this season, the Scarlets have now wonfour of their last five in all competitions. Peel said:“I’ve kept banging the drum around the hard work we are doing. Sometimes youdon’t see the benefits of it, but now, after a couple of wins, you get a bit ofconfidence and momentum off the back of it.”

There was aconcern for the watching Gatland as Wales and Lions full-back Liam Williams wasforced off in the first half with a facial injury, but the hope is he won’t beout for too long. Six Nations squad candidate Thomas Young, who has been soimpressive on the openside flank for Cardiff this season, limped away from theArms Park with a calf problem.

MATCH OF THEWEEKEND

Benetton 31,Ulster 29

It was a caseof ‘Who dares wins” for Benetton as they claimed the notable scalp of top-fourteam Ulster amid a dramatic finale at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Treviso.

The pendulumswung back and fore during a compelling contest with the Italians leading 17-10at the break and then 28-15 in the final quarter, only for Ulster to edge infront with a double strike.

Then came thenerve-jangling conclusion, with Benetton’s South Africa full-back Rhyno Smithslotting a penalty via the left-hand upright two minutes from time and his teamholding on to spark scenes of wild celebration. Delivering hisverdict, coach Marco Bortolami said: “The tactical key was to be able to controlas much territory as possible. When we did, we kept Ulster away from our 22 andwhen we didn’t they scored.

“In attack, wetook advantage of all the opportunities that arose. I believe facing this gamewith the will to dare, against one of the best sides in our league, was one ofthe keys to the match and the team did it from the first to the last minute.”

PLAYER OF THEWEEKEND

Cathal Forde(Connacht)

He’s only 21,with just a handful of appearances to his name and normally a fly-half, butForde rose to the challenge at inside centre with a two-try Player of the Matchdisplay in a 24-12 bonus point victory over the Cell C Sharks at the GalwaySportsground.

His twotouchdowns were both reward for his work-rate, the first the product of anintelligent support line and the second coming off his own charge-down.

DelightedConnacht director of rugby Andy Friend said: “We’re really proud of hisperformance. He thoroughly deserved that man of the match award. “He made histackles, he chopped low, and when he carried, he carried with real intent. Youcould see his left boot, he took a couple of kicks for touch, he worked hisbackside off and he got the fourth try because he worked so hard.

“He did thesimple things well, but he’s a very accomplished rugby player. He’ll have knownthere was a lot of pressure on him, with the selection, which was a complimentand a credit to him, but he stood up to that.”

QUOTE OF THEWEEKEND

Wales captainJustin Tipuric on his Ospreys team-mate Keiran Williams who produced a Man ofthe Match performance in the centre against Leinster: “He is on fire. You lookat him, he is not the biggest, but jeepers he packs a punch. He’s massive forus.”

Vodacom URC PLAY-OFFRACE

Glasgow,Benetton and Munster were the big movers in the play-off race, shooting up thetable with respective victories over the Stormers, Ulster and the Lions. On theflip side, Cardiff are counting the cost of successive home defeats in Welshderbies, dropping out of the top six to now lie down in tenth spot.

It’s gettingreally congested below the top four, with just ten points covering the nineteams from fifth to thirteenth in the table.

Looking aheadto Round 13 in the final weekend of January, the clash between sixth-placedBenetton and seventh-placed Munster in Treviso will be a key contest in theplay-off battle, with plenty of joy and jeopardy on the line. Similarly, themeeting between the two sides just below them - Edinburgh and the Sharks - willbe one with plenty hanging on it in the Scottish capital.