Bath made an heroic exit from this season's Heineken Cup, defying an injury crisis that meant they started with a 19-year-old hooker and played the entire second half with flanker Michael Lipman on the wing, to almost destroy Leinster's 100 per cent Pool Two record.

Tries in the final three minutes from fly-half David Holwell and lock Malcolm O'Kelly gave Leinster a thrilling 27-23 success and ensured their quarter-final passage.

But Bath coach John Connolly said: "I would be surprised if Leinster went on to win the Heineken Cup. I think teams will take it to them in the forwards and find them out.

"They have wonderful backs, but they have to get parity at the scrum and lineout if they are to get them to function.

"They are certainly going to be in the mix, especially with players like Brian O'Driscoll and six potential Lions tourists in their ranks, but they have still got some work to do."

Leinster's fellow Irish challengers Munster moved to within one victory of the quarter-finals they play hapless Harlequins at Twickenham next Saturday by defeating Neath-Swansea Ospreys 20-10 in Limerick.

First-half tries by Anthony Foley and Christian Cullen grounded the visitors, although Ospreys' Welsh international centre Gavin Henson claimed: "We felt that we were the better team."

Newcastle were counting the cost of a damaging trip to Perpignan that has rocked their quarter-final hopes.

Although the Falcons remain in control as Pool Five leaders, a 33-12 defeat at Stade Aime Giral means they must beat Kingston Park visitors Newport Gwent Dragons next Sunday to reach the knockout stages.

But they look certain to face a fired-up Dragons outfit without England backs Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon.

Fly-half Wilkinson limped off with a knee problem after kicking all the Falcons' points, while centre Noon suffered suspected concussion. In addition, their fellow key backs Matt Burke and Dave Walder missed the Perpignan clash through injury.

"The injuries are very disappointing, and so is the result," said Newcastle rugby director Rob Andrew.

"But we just have to move on, and we know we have to win next week at home to qualify for the quarter-finals.

"The game slipped away from us after the injuries to Jonny and Jamie."

Perpignan, whose last game is away against already-eliminated Edinburgh, can also win the group, but a defeat in Scotland would send the Dragons through if they triumph on Tyneside.