A TREMENDOUS performance by their international outhalf Eric Elwood ensured that Connacht had a successful start to their European Conference series against Padova at the Galway Sports ground on Saturday. The 27 year old contributed 19 points by way of five penalties and two conversions.

The Italian club side, coached by Nini Dolfin, were missing six first choice players through injury but this did not detract from the Connacht performance as a unit.

The first half was not a classic but it must be said that the conditions of driving wind and rain did not help matters. Padova, who play in the Italian first division, opened the scoring with a penalty from out half Hector De Marco, but a long range effort from 47 metres out in the 11th minute was well short.

Elwood brought the tie to 3-3 with a penalty, but De Marco replied with another good penalty on 24 minutes.

Connacht improved as the half wore on and in injury time second row Shane Leahy went for a 40 metre dash before he touched down for a try. his second in a week for the province. It was now 8-6 in the Westerners favour and that was how it stayed until the interval.

Padova started the second half well and took the lead once more with De Marco's third penalty but the lead changed bands in the 53rd minute with an accurate penalty from 42 metres by Elwood.

The visitors had their final say five minutes later with another penalty from their best performer De Marco.

Connacht finished the stronger and in the 60th and 66th minutes Elwood was on target with penalties to put the score at 17-12.

Connacht really managed to make their superiority tell in the last eight minutes with tries for hooker Billy Mulcahy and centre Nicky Barry as well as a penalty and two conversions from Elwood.