Connacht 37 Glasgow Warriors 8:CONNACHT PRODUCED an emphatic response to a pressure game viewed as season-defining. With only their second try bonus point this season, they disposed of a Warriors side, scoring five tries to the visitors' one at the Sportsground last evening.
In posting their first season’s double win, it has enabled Connacht to leapfrog their opponents on the Magners League table into 10th place.
Connacht had the contest wrapped up within six minutes of the second half, posting two tries in quick succession to grab their first try bonus point since their opening day victory over the Dragons. To cap their display, referee Tim Hayes awarded the hosts a penalty try after the pack had their opponents in disarray with a series of convincing drives.
Connacht showed the greater enterprise in attack both in the pack and the three-quarters, where Brian Tuohy grabbed a brace of tries, and Fionn Carr once again showed his blistering pace to post one.
“We knew these last two matches were crucial for us,” said coach Eric Elwood. “Coming back from the break to get two victories and come away with nine points, we are chuffed. We believe in what we are doing and we are sticking to our principles – tonight we got our rewards.”
Connacht led 18-8 at half-time.
They led 8-0 after nine minutes when outhalf Ian Keatley tapped over one of two early penalties before right wing Tuohy struck for the first try when he broke through flanker Robert Harley’s tackle on the line to touch down.
Scrumhalf Colin Gregor was an influential figure for the Warriors and it was his quick tap penalty that paved the way for his side’s opening score. Fullback Bernard Stortoni took a flat pass from Ruaridh Jackson, burst through the line and provided right wing Hefin O’Hare with a simple touchdown in the 13th minute.
Connacht responded and from Keatley’s well-executed grubber kick, the inrushing Gavin Duffy raced through to pounce for his side’s second try, which Keatley converted.
The Warriors replied immediately with a Ruaridh Jackson penalty, but Connacht finished the half with a second Keatley penalty.
Connacht’s two quick-fire tries then sealed the win. The returning Ray Ofisa and Niva Ta’auso were key figures in a strong defensive performance, and it was their turnover that sparked a sweeping counter-attack. Keatley’s break through the heart of the Glasgow cover set up Carr who could not be stopped from halfway.
Minutes later prop Brett Wilkinson forced a gaping hole from halfway and the supporting Keatley fed Tuohy out wide who finished off the game as a contest.
Yellow cards: Warriors, R Jackson 36m; Connacht, S Monahan 72m.
CONNACHT: D Duffy, B Tuohy, N Taauso, T Nathan, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, McCarthy, A Browne, J OConnor (cpt), R Ofisa. Replacements: M McComish for Ofisa (47 mins), R Ah You for Hagan (52 mins), C Willis for Murphy (64 mins), M Nikora for Keatley (65 mins), A Flavin for Cronin and R Loughney for Wilkinson (both 68 mins ), S Monahan for Tuohy (72 mins).
GLASGOW WARRIORS: B Stortoni, H OHare, F Aramburu, P Murchie, DTH van der Merwe, R Jackson, C Gregor (cpt), R Grant, F Thomson, E Kalman, A Muldowney, T Ryder, R Harley, C Forrester, J Beattie. Replacements: J Welsh for, K Tkachuck for E Kalman (HT), P Horne for Murchie (HT), J Welsh for R Grant (47 mins), R Wilson for Harley (52 mins), C Fusaro for J Beattie (59 mins), H Pyrgos for Stortoni and D Weir for Jackson (both 63 mins), R Grant for J Welsh for (66 mins), F Gillies for Thomson (68).
Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU).
