Connacht aim to push on after long-awaited win

CONNACHT received a much needed boost with this victory on Saturday night, their first Magners League win since mid-September.

And coach Eric Elwood doesn’t want his side to rest on their laurels.

He said: “This win was very important. It’s ok tapping yourself on the back saying ‘another moral victory, another losing bonus point, we are making improvements’ — yes, we are, but the game is about winning and that’s why this win is so important, but now we want to push on.”With the Scarlets missing eight internationals, Connacht back after a three weeks break, and the weather wet and windy, both sides struggled to maintain any rhythm in the opening half. However Connacht’s second-half doggedness, led by man of the match and captain Johnny O’Connor, coupled with the kicking of Ian Keatley, decided the outcome.

Elwood continued: “We were disappointed with the way we played in the first half, yet we led 8-3 and knew we had to get possession in the second half. In fairness to the guys they showed great character again. They stuck to it, carried the ball well, the substitutes made an impact, and they exerted pressure. I thought the second half performance was excellent considering they gave away an early score.”

Both sides scored one try apiece with Connacht’s coming in the 14th minute after No 8 Mike McComish fed Frank Murphy from the ruck, and the scrum-half looped with Keatley before finishing off in the right corner.

However within five minutes the Scarlets were off the mark after Connacht conceded a series of penalties at the breakdown, and outhalf Dan Newton fired over his 19th minute effort to reduce the deficit to 5-3.

With both packs involved in a war of attrition, it was Murphy who provided the spark when his work was rewarded with a penalty which Keatley slotted seconds before the break.

Connacht, however, conceded immediately after the restart from turnover ball when centre Regan King set up winger Gareth Maule for the visitors’ only try.

Newton’s conversion gave the Scarlets the lead, but Connacht’s response was positive, with the pack starting to win the battle at the breakdown. The sustained pressure was rewarded with a sin-binning to centre Scott Williams, and Keatley’s success with three of four penalty kicks.

CONNACHT: D Duffy, B Tuohy, N Ta’auso, T Nathan, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, McCarthy, A Browne, J O’Connor (cpt), M McComish.

Replacements: R Ah You for Hagan, R Ofisa for McComish (HT).

SCARLETS: D Evans, D Daniel, R King, S Williams, G Maule, D Newton, M Roberts, I Thomas (cpt) E Phillips, R Thomas, V Cooper, L Reed, R McClusker, J Edwards, B Morgan.

Replacements: N Cudd for Edwards and S Gardiner for Thomas (60m), R Lawrence for Phillips, G Davies for Roberts and J Fa’amatuainu for Cooper (all 66m).

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).