MAGNERS LEAGUE/Edinburgh 38 Connacht 8:CONNACHT'S DWINDLING hopes of Heineken European Cup qualification took another nosedive last evening in Murrayfield. This time it was Andy Robinson's Edinburgh who inflicted the damage to continue Connacht's dismal away record in the Magners League - the western province have not won on the road since they beat the now defunct Borders 18 months ago.
The raw north wind that brought showers of snow during the day made for a cold evening in Edinburgh, and there was little to warm the strong band of Connacht supporters among the 2,500 Murrayfield crowd.
While Edinburgh welcomed back five of their Scottish internationals, Connacht had three new competitive starters, prop John Lyne, lock Andrew Browne, and New Zealander Troy Nathan - the former Counties Manukau outhalf, who until last evening when replacing the injured Tim Donnelly, was playing his rugby with third division outfit Connemara.
Michael Bradley will not fault their effort and endeavour, but Connacht simply could not live with Edinburgh's pace and offloading game, and too often gave away ball too cheaply, particularly in the tackle.
The signs were there in the first half, but Connacht maintained their discipline in defence and competed for first-phase ball. But after the hosts scored their second try early in the second half, the floodgates opened and they ran in five tries to bag the important bonus point as they chase Munster for the fourth place.
Edinburgh enjoyed a two-point lead at the break, scanty enough for the amount of possession they enjoyed. Connacht edged the set- piece exchanges, particularly through Andrew Farley in the line-outs, but Edinburgh looked particularly dangerous when they got ball in hand, and started their offloading game.
They carved an early opportunity through a penalty they opted to kick for touch, but Farley got a hand to it, John Muldoon was quickest to react, and with Conor O'Loughlin in support they set about commanding possession for a 10-minute spell during which Donnelly struck a seventh-minute penalty to open the scoring.
Edinburgh, despite spurning another penalty kick, finally reaped their just reward in the 14th minute after Connacht prop Robbie Morris was sent to the bin. Captain Alllister Hogg, a commanding presence in the Edinburgh pack, started the surge to bring play within metres of the line, and although the Connacht pack held them out, outhalf Phil Godman forced a gap through a despairing couple of tackles from Johnny O'Connor and Daniel Riordan to touch down, adding the extras for a 7-3 lead.
Edinburgh continued to dominate territorially, but were hit by a Connacht breakaway try. Donnelly made the crucial intercept inside his own 22, sprinting away to halfway before offloading to the supporting Riordan.
The covering tackle from Scottish fullback Hugo Southwell was enough to fell Riordan short of the line, but not before the late replacement for the injured Aidan Wynne managed to get his pass away to Donnelly, who romped home. Injured in the process, Donnelly was also to drop goal the conversion which hit off the uprights.
Before the break Godman, who never missed a kick all evening, added a penalty, but it was the second half that proved Connacht's undoing.
The crucial try came on 51 minutes after Connacht lost possession on attack in the Edinburgh half, and the hosts once again patiently kept the ball alive before Godman chipped over the Edinburgh cover. Ben Cairns did well to field before Nick de Luca sent prop Craig Smith in.
Six minutes later, Connacht once again lost possession, conceding a penalty, and Edinburgh turned defence into attack. Mike Blair tapped and ran, nearly to the line, and although Nathan cleared, Edinburgh clearly had the upperhand. Webster did sufficient damage before Godman sent Southwell over, extending the home side's lead to 24-8.
There was no way back for Connacht who lost confidence and impetus, as they continued to turn over ball, losing the battle on the floor. Edinburgh revelled in the space they were given, with Hogg and Matt Mustchin adding to the try tally to cap a satisfactory night for the Scots.
EDINBURGH: H Southwell, S Webster, B Cairns, N De Luca, J Houston, P Godman, M Blair, G Kerr, A Kelly, C Smith, C Hamilton, B Gissing, A Hogg (capt), R Rennie, D Callam. Replacements: S Cross for Rennie (h/t); M Mustchin for Gissing (47 mins); A Allori for Kerr (56 mins); A Turnbull for Webster (62 mins); C Macrae for De Luca, B Meyer for Blair (both 63 mins); S Lawrie for Kelly, Kerr for Smith (both 69 mins).
CONNACHT: G Duffy, K Matthews, M Mostyn, M Deane, D Riordan, T Donnelly, C O'Loughlin, J Lyne, A Flavin, R Morris, A Browne, A Farley (capt), J Muldoon, J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: T Nathan for Donnelly (23 mins); M McCarthy for O'Connor (h/t); B Wilkinson for Lyne, R Loughney for Morris (both 43 mins); D Gannon for Browne (62 mins); C McPhillips for Riordan, J Merrgian for Flavin (63 mins).
Referee: J Jones (Wales).
