Mont de Marson - 12 Connacht - 26:CHALLENGE CUP:Recovery complete. Connacht made Mont de Marsan pay for the drubbing they took against Pontypridd last week with a dominant display in their Parker Pen Challenge Cup opener in France.
Two first half tries provided the cure to the Pontypridd hangover, and set themselves up with a 14-point lead going into Saturday's second leg at home against the new entrants to France's top 16 elite.
Despite a nervous opening in the Stade Guy Boniface on Saturday evening, Connacht outplayed their opponents to preserve their 100 per cent away record this season, adding victory in France to those already realised in Scotland and Wales.
Forcing Mont de Marsan to live on scraps in the second half, Connacht provided the 3,000 unusually appreciative French supporters with a display of continuity and expanse. That they did not add to their first half try tally was disappointing, but coach Steph Nel acknowledged the introduction of their entire bench perhaps broke their rhythm.
Connacht's second and third phase was quick, and they were also dominant in the line-out. With the backrow of Johnny O'Connor, John O'Sullivan, and Colm Rigney tormenting the French in the loose, Connacht's only worry was the scrum, where they were constantly penalised by Italian referee Morandin.
As a result the home side dominated early on and outhalf Waisali Serevi demonstrated why he is a legend in world sevens with some beguiling runs and probing kicks. Serevi took advantage of the mounting penalty count against Connacht to kick his side 6-0 ahead after 20 minutes.
Connacht capitalised, however, when awarded a five-metre scrum for a crooked line-out. Scrumhalf Eoin Reddan was able to secure possession from a dodgy scrum and pop to left wing Wayne Munn, who wriggled through for the try. Eric Elwood converted and added a 32nd-minute penalty to nudge Connacht ahead 10-9 after Serevi had kept his side in contention with a penalty from yet another scrum infringement.
However the game turned when, from the scrum, Reddan spotted the gap and breaking from 60 metres, sidestepped the cover to race in for a try on the stroke of half time. Elwood's conversion made it 17-9.
The second half belonged to Connacht and their constant pressure was rewarded with three Elwood penalties to a single effort from Serevi.
MONT DE MARSAN: O Toulouze; A Bouyssie, F Dabadie, A Vignau-Tuquet, A Aguilar; W Serevi, N Cabannes (capt); S Boizot, O Gouaillard, F Anglade, P Lago, M Koita, P Alaoui, L Monberg, J Labat. Replacements: J Vincent for Montberg (51mins) Dehez Gouillard (56), C Mathieu for Alaoui (64), X Audu for Boizot (69), F Lallane for Anglade (75), S Loubsens for Cabannes (77)
CONNACHT: G Duffy; J Norton, D Yapp, S Moore (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, M Uijs, P Bracken, D Browne, R Frost, C Rigney, J O'Connor, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: G Flannery for Uijs, M McHugh for Moore, F Boiroux for Bracken, D McFarland for McCormack (all 66 mins), E Peters for Browne (76), P Neville for O'Sullivan (76). Yellow card: P Lago (79M).
Referee: G Morandin (Italy).
