Elwood soothed by team’s spirit

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood has vowed that a heartbreaking late loss to English Premiership side Gloucester will not break his side’s spirit.

The western province, deservedly leading their hosts 19-16, were denied a first Heineken Cup victory four minutes from time when replacement Jonny May escaped a tackle and swept over the line at Kingsholm on Saturday.

Elwood admitted: “Unfortunately the better team lost, but I thought our performance was magnificent. Our guys are learning every week to play in Europe, and hopefully these performances will stand to us. We have two derby matches against Munster and Leinster [in the RaboDirect Pro12 League], and that is the next challenge. We are losing ball games, but it has not broken our spirit.