EBBW Vale went down fighting 9 points to 20 in France against Agen where the home fly half Francois Gelez won the day.

The Steelmen battled bravely against the French side on their home patch and deserved more out of this Pool 1 opener of the Parker Pen Shield.

Ebbw Vale face Italian side Rovigo next weekend at Eugene Cross Park and will be hoping to go one better than they did in France.

Coach Mike Ruddock will fancy his side's chances against the Italians at home and Ebbw have nothing to fear on their own patch.

Kevin Hopkins, Ebbw Vale's assistant coach was delighted with the way his side performed in the face of this opening defeat and believes his players can take a lot out of this game. "It is always difficult to come to France but we battled hard and came away with some credit," said Hopkins. "On another night things might have gone our way. We wasted an opportunity to score a try late on in the second half and gifted them one just before half time. But this was a good performance and we have to be pleased, if not with the result, with our performance against a French side in France."

The Steelmen showed plenty of fire against the French giants before half-time and only trailed 10-6 at the interval.

Wing Gareth Cull kept them in touch with two penalties but just as it looked as though Vale would edge ahead Agen stretched their lead with a well-worked try.

Impressive Agen centre Guillaime Bouic swept through the Ebbw Vale defence for a try and fly half Gelez added the crucial conversion.

Cull added a third penalty in the second half but the home side managed to keep their noses in front and finally sealed matters with a try by wing Christophe Manas just before time and Gelez sealed the win with the conversion.

l Bath coach Jon Callard saluted the "inspirational" Mike Catt after his team rekindled memories of past European glories with a stunning Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz. Bath's 14-6 triumph was the English highlight on an opening weekend when Heineken Cup holders Leicester were given a huge fright by Llanelli, Newcastle lost at home to Newport and Harlequins edged past Bridgend.

l Leicester's England and Lions captain Martin Johnson was sin-binned during the tense 12-9 Welford Road victory against pool one visitors Llanelli.

Four Tim Stimpson penalties saw Leicester home - his match-winning kick arriving just 17 minutes from time.

Paul Burke was the architect behind Harlequins' 30-24 pool four triumph at Bridgend, contributing 20 points through a try, three penalties and three conversions. lGavin Henson landed six penalties and dropped a goal to give Swansea an unconvincing 21-16 pool three success against Edinburgh.