MAGNERS LEAGUE Connacht 31 Treviso 25:CONNACHT SECURED the necessary victory at the Galway Sportsground yesterday to leapfrog their opponents Treviso in the Magners League table.
It was a win achieved on the back of a fine first 50 minutes in which Connacht scored three tries, but they made life difficult for themselves in the second half as the Italians crept back to within touching distance at the end.
While Eric Elwood was disappointed with his side’s failure to grab a bonus point, he will be looking for his side to extend a three-game winning sequence at home against Aironi next Friday.
Connacht were the better of the sides in the opening half, but having pushed ahead 18-0 after 24 minutes, they conceded two soft tries to allow the visitors back into the game. It was a high-tempo opening from the home side that produced a try within three minutes. Recycling from a lineout, a swift move saw centre Troy Nathan cross to score.
Keatley converted and added a penalty after Treviso flanker Manoa Voasawai was binned. Four minutes later scrumhalf Frank Murphy added a second try with prop Jamie Hagan doing the damage close to the line.
Keatley stretched the lead to 18- 0 after the visitors were penalised in the ruck. However, the Italian pack started to make an impact and Connacht conceded a 27th-minute try when they failed to deal with a loose ball. Right wing Michele Sepe scooped up the ball and raced through, with outhalf Willem De Wall adding the extras.
Seven minutes later Connacht, on the attack again, were penalised for crossing, and the visitors capitalised with Vasawai eventually powering over, narrowing the gap to 18-12.
However, Connacht finished the half the stronger with two Keatley penalties and when Brian Tuohy grabbed the third try seven minutes into the second half, the home side looked certain to grab a bonus win.
Instead they lost their composure, failing to retain possession and conceding a host of penalties. De Waal started the fightback with a penalty from half way and added another 10 minutes later. With Johnny O’Connor also yellow carded, Treviso went for the jugular. Having strengthened their scrum, the Italians forced three penalties from five-metre scrums and were awarded the penalty try. It set up a tense finish which Connacht survived.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta'auso, T Nathan, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagain; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O'Connor (capt), R Ofisa. Replacements: R Loughney for Wilkinson, Rodney Ah You for Hagan (both 63 mins). Yellow card: J O'Connor (72 mins)
BENETTON TREVISO: B Williams; M Sepe, E Galon, A Pratichetti, J Maddock; W De Waal, L Nitoglia; I Fernandez Rouyet, F Sbaraglini, L Cittadini; A Pavanello (capt), C Van Zyl; B Vermaak, M Vosawai, M Filippucci. Replacements: P De Santo for Cittadini, G Padro for Pavanello, M Rizzo for Rouyet, P Derbyshire for Vosawai (all 48 mins), E Pavanello for Fillippucci, G Garcia for Pratichetti (both 61 mins). Yellow card: M Vosawai (7 mins)
Referee: G Knox(SRU).
