McHugh’s late magic show breaks Borders

Borders 27 Connacht 28

But the drama did not end there and eight minutes into stoppage time Borders were awarded a penalty on the left-wing but to the relief of the vociferous Connacht contingent Kevin

Utterson pulled his penalty wide.

Connacht held the advantage for long periods but did not chalk up the scores to reflect this.

Connacht, playing with the benefit of the wind, led 19-6 at the end of the first-half when they had to be content with one try.

It came in first-half stoppage time and was no more than they deserved.

Connacht turned over ball inside their own 22 before bursting down field, the ball passing through several hands as Borders back-tracked and it ended with Eric Elwood and Michael swift feeding Dan McFarland inside the opposing 22 to touchdown.

McFarland had been introduced after prop Peter Bracken and his Borders counterpart Paul Thompson were sin-binned.

Eric Elwood converted to add to the four out of four penalties he had earlier clocked up, two of them from close to the half way line.

Connacht hopes were knocked with Johnny O’Connor and Eric Elwood both forced to retire injured either side of the break and then prop Ronnie McCormack was sin-binned.

Borders reduced the deficit with Utterson’s third penalty after 45 minutes before Scottish winger Cammie Murray got in for a try two minutes later.

Utterson was wide with the convert but edged Borders in front for the first time after 56 minutes when he converted Murray’s second try.

Mark McHugh, having moved to fly-half after Elwood’s retirement, put Connacht ahead going into the final quarter with a penalty from the left-wing and then made it 25-21 17 minutes from time with another successful kick from 40 metres.

Utterson pulled back a penalty three minutes later and when it seemed Connacht would hold on, Welsh referee Nigel Owens awarded Borders a penalty in front of the posts and Utterson edged them 27-25 in front.

But Connacht¹s fighting spirit came to the fore in the dying minutes when McHugh struck his dramatic winner.

Borders: T. Vili; N. Walker, S. Cranston, K. Utterson, C. Murray; G. Townsend, G. Armstrong; P. Thomson, S. Scott, B. Douglas; S. McLeod, R. Metcalfe; A. Rennick, S. Sititi, C. Feather. Replacements: M. Taylor for Rennick, 58 mins; J. Stuart for Vili, 64 mins.

Connacht: M. McHugh, T. Robinson, D. Yapp, T. Allnutt, W. Munn; E. Elwood,

E. ERddan; R. McCormack, M. IUjs, P. Bracken; W. Waugh, R. Frost; M. Swift, E. Peters, J. O’Connor.

Replacements: D. McFarland for McCormack; J. O¹Sullivan for O’Connor, in. half-time; D. O’Sullivan for Elwood, in. 52 mins; C. Keane for ERddan, 66 mins; H. Bourke for Uijs, 86 mins. Referee: N. Owens (WRU).