The best of the GUINNESS PRO12: Round Six

Dan Biggar booted Ospreys back to the top of the GUINNESS PRO12 as they secured their sixth consecutive victory with a 26-15 triumph over Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium.

The Welsh fly-half scored 16 points in a flawless kicking display with full-back Dan Evans crossing in the first-half before the impressive Rhys Webb grabbed an opportunistic try after the break.

The Blues responded with two late tries from replacements Lloyd Williams and Kristian Dacey, but it was not enough to prevent Steve Tandy's side extending their winning run against rival Welsh regions to 16 games.

Ospreys replaced Glasgow Warriors at the summit of the GUINNESS PRO12 table after Gregor Townsend's previously unbeaten side were downed 29-9 by Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium.

A kicking duel between Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys and opposite number Finn Russell left the score poised at 15-6 to the hosts at half-time before Glasgow centre Mark Bennett was stretchered off with a serious neck injury on the hour.

Craig Gilroy then picked a superb line to scythe through the visitors' defence and touch down before fellow Irish international Tommy Bowe intercepted Euan Murray's loose pass to race away and score under the posts.

Victory for Neil Doak's side moved them up to third, one place ahead of Irish rivals Munster, who recorded their fourth win of the season with a hard-fought 17-6 victory over Scarlets at Thomond Park.

Fly-half JJ Hanrahan kicked 12 points and also set up centre Andrew Smith for the game's only try as the hosts narrowly led 8-6 at half-time.

Hanrahan added three more penalties after the break while Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland endured a tough night off the tee, leaving head coach Wayne Pivac frustrated at his wasteful side.

After last weekend's derby loss to Munster, Leinster returned to winning ways as fly-half Ian Madigan inspired them to a 20-3 triumph over a resilient Zebre at Stadio XXV Aprile.

Madigan scored 13 points, including a sublime break for his side's first try, after the hosts had frustrated the Irish side as the first-half ended 3-3.

Leonardo Sarto went close for the Italians but Matt O'Connor's side extended their lead as substitute Luke McGrath darted over from close range late on.

Edinburgh clinched their second win of the season as Tim Visser's second-half try helped them to a 24-10 triumph over Newport Gwent Dragons at BT Murrayfield.

The visitors briefly led through Matthew Pewtner's try just after the break before Visser charged down Hallam Amos' clearance to touch down and Dougie Fife also crossed, with fly-half Tom Heathcote booting 14 points.

And Connacht bounced back from their dramatic draw with Cardiff in round five with a scrappy 9-6 win against Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo.

Craig Ronaldson landed three penalties to Jayden Hayward's two but the latter came close to the game's lone try with a sharp break, only for the visiting defence to rally.

TRY OF THE WEEKEND

Ulster faced a tough examination by a Glasgow Warriors side seeking their sixth straight victory but with the game poised at 15-9 to the hosts, Craig Gilroy's moment of individual brilliance proved decisive.

The Irish flyer chose a sublime line to collect Paul Marshall's pop pass from the back of a maul and left the Glasgow defenders grasping at thin air as he dived over in the corner.

BREAK OF THE WEEKEND

Despite spurning an early opportunity to touch down, Tim Visser always looked the man most likely to inspire Edinburgh to victory over Newport Gwent Dragons, as he proved with a dazzling break on 30 minutes.

The Scottish international ghosted past the Dragons' first line and side-stepped replacement Angus O'Brien to deftly offload to Hamish Watson but Nic Cudd and Matthew Pewtner combined to prevent the flanker grounding the ball.

PLAY OF THE WEEKEND

A nervy first-half performance by Leinster left them level at 3-3 with Zebre at the interval and seeking inspiration to break the Italian side's resistance.

Man-of-the-match Ian Madigan provided the spark as he surged through a gap between two Zebre forwards in the defensive line and showed neat footwork to go over untouched.

PLAYER OF THE WEEKEND

Madigan made his first start at fly-half of the season against Zebre and stake his claim for the No.10 shirt on a permanent basis after guiding Leinster through a fraught encounter.

Aside from his decisive try and conversion, Madigan landed two penalties and marshalled his troops effectively to douse the Italian side's hopes of adding another Irish scalp to their season.

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