Connacht 40 Dragons 17:IT WAS the start new Connacht coach Eric Elwood had "craved" – not only an opening-day victory, but an unexpected four-try bonus point win. It consigned the Welsh visitors to a seventh loss at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday and their biggest margin of defeat at the Connacht venue.
Elwood, who had expected a “tighter” result, was quick to quell any notions his side was getting carried away, particularly as they head to Parc Y Scarlets and Firhill in the next fortnight. “We won the game, the bonus point was the cream on the cake. It sets the lads up. We have a little bit of confidence going into next week.”
At the heart of this win was Connacht’s superiority in the set-piece, and allied to an intensity in defence and accuracy in attack – a strategy based on a quicker tempo than Connacht usually play – they held the initiative for long periods.
Leading 20- 9 at the break, Connacht took the Dragons by surprise, scoring after three minutes when Niva Ta’auso burst through the midfield cover from Ezra Taylor’s lineout ball and openside Ray Ofisa finished off under the posts. The second try on 32 minutes came via Taylor again, and with support from Jamie Hagan, Seán Cronin finished off for a 20-3 lead. Ian Keatley added the conversions and two first-half penalties.
The dominance in the set-piece provided Connacht with go-forward ball, and Gavin Duffy instigated the counterattack. While both sides had players yellow- carded – Taylor sinbinned for a high tackle on Jason Tovey, and Duffy for failing to retreat after pulling off a try-saving tackle on Leslie Charteris – it was Connacht who coped better with the losses.
Although the Dragons fought back with three first-half penalties and after starving Connacht of ball for 12 minutes of the second half, reduced the lead to 20-12, it was Connacht’s superior commitment in the tackle and intensity at the breakdown that proved decisive.
A super break from Keatley, a forerunner to the outhalf’s try on 67 minutes which gave Connacht their bonus point, set up a 53rd-minute penalty, while the frontrow of Brett Wilkinson, Cronin and Hagan gave their side the upper hand. A 59th-minute penalty was the precursor to a penalty try after a series of collapsed scrums on 65 minutes, stretching the lead to 33-12. Winger Will Harries scored a consolation try.
Elwood will have concerns for Taylor who has joined Johnny O’Connor and John Muldoon on the injury list. Taylor is to undergo a scan on his knee today.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, E Taylor. Replacements: A Flavin for Cronin, R Loughney for Wilkinson, M McComish for McCarthy (all 56 mins), D Nolan for Taylor (58 mins), R Sweeney for Hagan (69 mins), C Willis for Murphy (63 mins), M Nikora for Keatley (69 mins), T O'Halloran for Duffy (69 mins). Yellow cards: E Taylor (18 mins), G Duffy (50 mins).
DRAGONS: J Tovey; W Harries, R Gomer-Davies, T Riley, A Brew; M Jones, D Lee; H Gustafson, S Jones, B Castle, L Charteris (capt), S Morgan, J Bearman, H Ellis, R Sowden-Taylor. Replacements: P Palmer for Castle (31 mins), D Lydiate for Ellis (half-time), G Thomas for Sowden-Taylor (47 mins), D Bishop for Gomer-Davies (58 mins), R Sidoli for Charteris (53 mins), N Griffiths for Lee (70 mins), L Burns for Jones and A Mckenzie for Gustafson (75 mins). Yellow card: L Charteris (23 mins).
Referee: J Jones(Wales).
