EUROPEAN CUP: NARBONNE - 34 CONNACHT - 22:Celebrating appearances for Connacht, Eric Elwood would not have wished for a more hostile environment than the Parc des Sports in Narbonne.
The French side, wounded by their previous loss to Connacht in Athlone, sought only retribution, making for a bruising and often bad-tempered European Shield clash.
At the end of the night Narbonne prevailed, snatching second place in the pool by their superior try count in those two games.
"It was hostile out there, all right," said Elwood, who had led the team onto the pitch to a muted reception from the 2,000 spectators.
"Obviously I would have preferred to play my 100th match in the Galway Sportsground, but I was thrilled and also emotional. It's a terrific honour and a great feeling.
"Yes, I was disappointed to lose, but we have achieved so much this year. To do what we have done, beat the quality teams home and away, well it's a considerable achievement. I suppose the real test is next year because we are no longer surprise packets."
However on Saturday night it was Narbonne who sprung the first surprise. Their opening try after 11 minutes caught Connacht unaware as Olivier Merle orchestrated the catch and drive from the 22 to crash over. And for the first 20 minutes that front five ruled the roost. Their second try was similarly fashioned with lock Colin Gaston doing the hard graft before Sudra sent centre Sabardeil through on the blind side.
Elwood had kept Connacht in contention with two penalities, and when scrumhalf James Ferris broke from a quickly-taken penalty, he did all the legwork before Wayne Munn claimed his 11th try of the season. Elwood added the conversion.
Just a point behind, Connacht played the more enterprising rugby. Johnny O'Connor and number eight Des Dillon were in outstanding form as they refused to be intimidated by the big French pack. By half-time Connacht should have been ahead when Darren Yapp cleared the way for Tim Allnutt but the number 12 knocked on with the line abegging.
The turning point came immediately after the break when Sebastian Petit mirrored Merle's first-half try and Argentinian outhalf Gonzala Quesada kept his 100 per cent kicking record when extending the lead to 27-13 with two penalties.
Elwood narrowed the margin to eight points with two more penalties, but an intercept try by Sabardeil, despite more than a hint of offside, put paid to Connacht's hopes.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, J Ferris; D McFarland, M Uijs, P Bracken, R Frost, D Browne, M Swift, J O'Connor, D Dillon. Replacements: J Charlie for Swift (h/t), T Kearns for Uijs (61 mins), R McCormack for Bracken, C Rigney for Browne (72mins).
NARBONNE: P Serre; L Subra, D Douy, V Subardeil, P Bazani; G Quesada, G Sudre; A Martinez, M Ledesma, M Bigou, C Gaston, O Merlie, C Mathieu, M Raynaud, A Hill. Replacements: S Petit for Bigou (31 mins), S Moore for Gaston (49 mins), P Furet for Merle and JP Poux for Martinez (59 mis), C Roslen for Serre (75mins).
Yellow cards: Connacht, Bracken (40mins); Narbonne, Ledesma (40mins)
Referee: S Lander (England).
