Two-time European Cup champions Munster drew on all their experience on Sunday to defeat Welsh side Ospreys 22-16 and stay top of Pool 3.

The Irish province scored three tries - courtesy of former All Black Doug Howlett, veteran David Wallace and Johne Murphy - to the Ospreys one - by Irish winger Tommy Bowe - although they played the last 10 minutes with just 14 men after lock Paul O'Connell was given a straight red card only 10 minutes after coming on.

Ospreys had more than held their own, leading until the final seconds of the first-half when Ronan O'Gara landed his first kick in four attempts to make it 8-6.

Munster had scored the only try of the half when Tomas O'Leary's superb kick into the Ospreys 22 saw Howlett run onto it and touch down.

It was the Ospreys, though, who drew first blood in the second period when Bowe intercepted Sam Tuitupou's pass deep inside his 22 and raced away showing a clean pair of heels to record his 19th try in 39 European Cup appearances.

However, the Irish side gained the upper hand near the hour mark when Ryan Jones was yellow carded and the hosts took full advantage.

First Wallace crossed and O'Gara converted to give them a 15-13 lead.

This was quickly followed by Murphy taking O'Leary's pass and running the ball in which was also superbly converted by O'Gara from way out on the left.

Elsewhere, the Dragons went down 23-16 at home to former champions Wasps of England.

The last two games of the weekend saw French duo, domestic champions Clermont and Toulon beat 2009 European champions Leinster and London Irish respectively.

Clermont re-established their challenge to finishing top of Pool 2 by beating Leinster - who were without Irish national skipper Brian O'Driscoll and lost Irish No.8 Jamie Heaslip in the second-half to injury - 20-13 with fullback Anthony Floch scoring the decisive try.

Leinster's consolation was to take a defensive bonus point and stay top of the pool by a point from Clermont.

"Allowing them this point will make us have to go and do something against them in Dublin next weekend," said Floch.

Toulon's 19-13 win in England saw them also get right back in contention in Pool 3, trailing Munster by two points but London Irish need a miracle to get the one automatic place for the knockout stages as they slumped to their sixth successive defeat in all competitions.

Toulon's South African backrow star Joe van Niekerk said that the win was key for the team.

"This was really needed after the away defeat against Munster, which was a really heavy one," said van Niekerk, who was named man of the match.

"This will be a real confidence booster for the boys."

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