RONAN O’GARA does not get that many opportunities these days to display his skills at Musgrave Park, but he treated the crowd of almost 7,000 last night to a superb display of kicking in appalling conditions.

CONNACHT brought a nine match losing run to an end by notching their ninth victory on French soil on Saturday when they shocked a Bayonne side who needed to win to stay in the hunt for a quarter-final spot in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

CONNACHT are on course for a seventh European quarter-final after consolidating their leadership of Pool Two with a well-deserved victory over Montpellier at the Galway Sportsground last evening.

WHEN sights were set on the highest peak, the substitute Magners League title might be construed as scant consolation after relinquishing a European crown; except somebody forgot to tell the loyal fans of Munster, close to 20,000 of them at Thomond Park last night.

IN a game that could have gone either way, Connacht were forced to accept a draw against a side touting title hopes.