Connacht battle to victory
Connacht racked up a 19—9 first-half lead, but the pendulum swung in Newport’s favour with a bizarre 15 — 3 penalty count against the visitors in the second. And with Ronan Loughney in the sinbin, and Eoghan Grace following suit after just a minute on the field, Connacht had to produce an immense defensive display.
The Dragons started the scoring with a penalty from outhalf Lewis Robling but Vainikolo then finished off in the corner and Nikora added the conversion to put Connacht 7 — 3 ahead. Within minutes Robling responded with a second penalty.
