Toulouse's Gregory Lamboley looks towards the Ulster players
© AFP Peter Muhly

PARIS (AFP) - Ulster, who took the title in 1999, saw off their French visitors with two tries from winger Andrew Trimble and a third from scrum-half Issac Boss with the rest of the points coming from the relaible boot of David Humphreys.

This was Toulouse's worst result since the 40-10 defeat to Leinster in the 2001-2002 campaign.

Guy Noves' side were caught out by Ulster's speed with the hosts racing into an early lead when Trimble, set up by Tommy Bowe, touched down on the left wing after just four minutes.

Toulouse were unable to cope with Ulster's aggressive defence epitomised by Nigel Best's tackle on Gregory Lamboley in the 27th minute.

Ulster were 13-0 ahead after the flawless Humphreys' added two penalties by the first quarter of an hour.

In the 29th minute Boss came up with Ulster's second try, a virtuoso affair as he picked up the ball on the counter attack, produced a dummy pass, escaped Salvatore Perugini's tackle to touch down.

Neil Best (L) runs away from Omar Hasan
© AFP Peter Muhly

Trimble then added the third when shrugging off Thierry Dusautoir and Argentine prop Omar Hasan on a 40 metre charge down the field.

With Valentin Courrent only converting one of their two penalties Toulouse trudged into the dressing room at the break 30-3 adrift in the knowledge that they would have to start the second half with 14 men after Yannick Jauzion's sin-binning for a dangerous tackle.

But Toulouse recovered their pride with a battling second half display but the Irish defence held firm as both sides were reduced in personnel with the sendings off of Fabien Pelous for Toulouse and Ulster prop Justin Fitzpatrick.

Stade Francais, running away with the French championship, set out in their quest for a first ever European title with a resounding 45-10 win at Italian side Calvisano.

Another Italian team, Treviso, were beaten 25-10 by Perpignan.

The two later games Saturday see Leinster take on Gloucester and Bourgoin against Cardiff with reigning champions Munster up against Leicester on Sunday.

On Friday, Neath-Swansea overcame the loss of star centre Gavin Henson to clinch a dramatic last minute 17-16 win over English Premiership champions Sale.

Vincent Clerc (L) is tackled by Paddy Wallace
© AFP Peter Muhly

James Hook held his nerve to convert Shane Williams' injury-time try to give the Welsh club a winning start in their Pool 3 encounter.

Llanelli made it a double-winning start for the Welsh, who have never won the trophy, with a battling 32-25 win at London Irish.

French side Agen edged Edinburgh 19-17 while Border dismissed Parma 35-3.

At the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, Charlie Hodgson's second-half penalties had looked to been enough for Sale, before Hook had the last word with a cool conversion of Shane Williams' second try of the tie.

Neath-Swansea coach Lyn Jones said that had his team lost they would have considered their European campaign over as their group contains French heavyweights Stade Francais.

"If we had lost tonight we would have been out of the competition, but we have got to go to Stade - which is probably the toughest away game in European rugby - and play to our strengths," said Jones.

Sale's problems were compounded by seeing England winger Mark Cueto limp off after just 13 minutes with an ankle injury.

©AFP