Connacht show battling qualities to slay Dragons

Connacht 29 Dragons 23: Connacht opened their Guinness Pro 12 season with a valuable home win, edging a lively encounter against the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Galway Sportsground last evening.

Although struggling at the breakdown against a physical Welsh pack, Connacht’s potency proved sharper on the night, outscoring the Dragons by three tries to two.

Pat Lam’s men were rewarded with two Jack Carty penalties from early pressure, but with new South African signing Sarel Pretorious pulling the strings at halfback, the visitors gathered momentum. Fullback Carl Meyer was wide with a 15th minute penalty, before Carty struck a 22nd minute effort to stretch the lead to 9-0.