Leeds Carnegie's European dream is still alive but they were given a scare at Headingley Carnegie by French side Dax before a late rally ensured a 25-18 win.
Stuart Lancaster's side are now six points clear at the top of Pool 5 with rivals Castres travelling to Italian's Calvisano this weekend. A win for the French side will set up a winners-takes-all game on Thursday night when Leeds head across the Channel for a televised encounter. 
Leeds were without their captain Stuart Hooper after he was ruled out for a fortnight due to a shoulder injury but Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster signalled his intention by naming an exciting backline. 
Leeds were forced to defend their own line in the opening stages as Dax made a bright start as they looked to keep the ball alive. However, good scrambling defence forced the visitors into an error.
But Leeds Carnegie were not so lucky after 12 minutes when Dax scored the first try of the game but it was gifted to them by the hosts. Andy Tuilagi took an aimless kick from Argel but instead of kicking to touch himself he passed to Alberto Di Bernardo and in the delay, Vincent Deniau was able to block the attempted clearance and chased through to score. Gavin Williams missed the conversion but Dax led 5-0.  
The home side finally woke from their early slumber led by the forward pack. Having gained possession inside the Dax 22 metre area when the visitors were penalised for feeding the scrum, the forwards rumbled forward through Tommy McGee and Jon Dunbar. Eventually, Italian referee Alan Falzone awarded Leeds a penalty which Di Bernardo kicked to make it 5-3 after 17 minutes.
Just before the half hour mark, Leeds took the lead through a second penalty from Di Bernardo from 38 metres out after two of the Dax back row were penalised for breaking early from the scrum. Despite now leading, the home side were still failing to fire in the cold and wet conditions at Headingley Carnegie.
As it was, the lead only remained for four minutes as Williams made up for his earlier miss to make it 8-6 with a penalty.
Leeds needed a boost before the interval after a lacklustre opening half and they got it when Dax scrum half Julien Lesgourgues made a hash of kicking to touch. Leeds kept the ball tight from the ensuing line out 18 metres from the Dax line.  The pressure led to a penalty and Di Bernardo kicked his side into the lead with two minutes remaining. The Argentinean had an ambitious effort to extend the lead with the last kick of the half but his long range attempt was wide and short.
Leeds came out fired up at the start of the second half as they dominated the opening ten minutes. However, they suffered a sucker punch when Dax took advantage of a spilled ball by the Leeds attack. The ball was moved wide and winger Joe Mbu cut back across the desperate attempt by Apo Satala, who had just come on the field for Tom Biggs. Williams added the conversion to make it 15-9 after 52 minutes.
The game entered a crucial spell with 25 minutes remaining when the visitors first try scorer Deniau sin binned for a deliberate knock on. Di Bernardo added the subsequent penalty and then levelled the score after 61 minutes with another penalty.
Just as the Dax back rower was about to rejoin play, Leeds scored the crucial try. Di Bernardo dummied a drop goal before finding Jonny Hepworth. The centre-turned-full back produced a sublime side step to burst through the visitors defence and score between the posts. Di Bernardo added the conversion to make it 22-15 after 67 minutes.
The home side appeared to have some breathing space when Di Bernardo kicked his fifth penalty of the night but Williams replied to set up a nervous last six minutes as Leeds Carnegie looked to hold on for the win.

Leeds Carnegie: Hepworth; Tuilagi, Vickerman, Blackett, Biggs; Di Bernardo, Bedford; MacDonald, Parkes, McGee, Bouza, Lund, Paul, Schusterman, Dunbar.
Replacements: Nilsen for Parkes (67), Noon for McGee (60), Cusack, Clark for Paul (56), Aspinall, Satala for Biggs (51), Hinton for Blackett (56).
Dax: Sweeney; Tutard, Williams, Roque, M'Bu; Argel, Lesgourgues; Lealamanua, Pedrosa, Decamps, Mazel, Sierra, Pendanx, Deniau, Thompson.
Replacements: Brugnaut for Decamps (47), Rameau for Lealamanua (60), Boyoud for Sierra (72), Berek for Thomson (60), Diaz for Sweeney (72), Bell for Argel (58), Lafourcade for Mbu (67), Berek for Sierra (BB25 rev 29).
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Attendance: 2011