Connacht edge Dragons
Connacht held a 17-11 lead after a first half marked by the dismissal of Dragons’ captain Rynard Landman, for an elbow on Jack Carty, on 14 minutes as Connacht led 10-3.
Connacht’s reply to Tom Prydie’s opening score was swift, centre Craig Ronaldson crashing through three tacklers. Carty added the extras for a seven-point lead.
Eoghan Masterson, in his first start, added a second try, Carty converting.
After a succession of penalties, Dragons’ left wing Hallam Amos crossed in the right corner, and before the break Connacht were unlucky to concede a breakdown penalty which saw Prydie bring the home side within a score.
Connacht added to their tally 16 minutes after the restart with a Darragh Leader penalty. Three minutes later he stretched the lead to 23-11.
Jack Dixon’s converted try brought Dragons within five but Connacht put the game out of reach as Mick Kearney touched down, Leader adding the extras. Amos’ try grabbed a bonus point for Dragons.
D’gons scorers: Tries: Amos 2, Dixon. Cons: Prydie 2. Pens: Prydie 2.
DR’GNS: Tovey, Prydie, Dixon, A. Smith, Amos, D. Jones, J. Evans, Stankovich, T. Thomas, Harris, Coombs, R. Landman, J. Thomas, Cudd, Crosswell. Replacements: Pewther for Tovey (9), Rees for J. Evans (66), Fairbrother for Stankovich (78), Buckley for T. Thomas (66), Way for Harris (78), Gough for Cudd (25).
Connacht scorers: Tries: Ronaldson, Masteron, Kearney. Cons: Carty 2, D. Leader. Pens: Carty, D. Leader 2.
CONNACHT: D. Leader, Poolman, McSharry, Ronaldson, Healy, Carty, J. Cooney, Buckley, McCartney, Ah You, Roux, Muldowney, Muldoon, Heenan, Masteron. Replacements: Adeolokun for Healy (79), O’Halloran for Carty (48), Porter for Buckley (78), Delahunt for McCartney (79), Bealham for Ah You (66), Kearney for Roux (55), Naoupu for Masteron (70). Referee: L Linton (Scotland).
