Six make their debut with Connacht

Connacht 24, Bristol Shoguns 33

A youthful Connacht side which saw six starting players make their debut went down to Bristol Shoguns in a pre-season friendly at the Galway Sportsground on Wednesday evening.

Bristol opened the scoring after nine minutes when left-winger Jamie Williams crossed for the opening try which was converted by fly-half Matt Carrington.

Connacht out-half Shane Moore crowned his debut for the side with a fine try after fifteen minutes, adding the points himself to level the match.

But Bristol went back in front after 24 minutes wheen centre Duncan Hayward touched down after a good break.

Carrington added the points and also converted Williams¹ second try of the game after 32 minutes when he intercepted on his own 22 to leave Bristol 21-7 ahead.

Connacht pulled back the deficit just before the break when Moore landed a drop goal to leave the score at 21-10 in Bristol¹s favour at the break.

Connacht debut winger James Norton crossed for a fine try after 53 minutes with Moore converting to leave it at 21-17.

Brendan Daniel broke for a try for Bristol after 61 minutes, which Carrington again converted.

Connacht were given hope in the closing stages when Henry Bourke crossed for a try under the posts which Eric Elwood converted to leave just four between them.

Williams completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to wrap up the issue.

Scorers: Connacht: S. Moore, try, two cons, drop goal; J. Norton, try; H. Bourke, try; E. Elwood, con Bristol Shoguns: J. Williams, three tries; M. Carrington, four cons; D. Hayward, try; B. Daniel, try.

Connacht: J. Meagher; J. Norton, D. O¹Sullivan, M. McPhail, T. Robinson; S. Moore, C. Keane; D. McFarland, J. Flannery, F. Boiroux; A. Maher, R. Frost; M. Swift, J. O¹Sullivan, P. Neville.

Replacements: H. Bourke for Flannery, inj. 30 mins; C. Rigney for Maher, inj. half-time; W. Waugh for Swift, inj. 55 mins; E. Elwood for Moore, 60 mins; M. Walls for Keane, 60 mins; P. Bracken for Boiroux, 60 mins; Maher for Frost, 60 mins; R. McCormack for McFarland, 60 mins.

T. Allnutt for D. O¹Sullivan, 78 mins; Bristol: J. Clarke; M. Johnson, D. Rees, D. Hayward, J. Williams; M. Carrington,P. Richards; T. Payne, S. Nelson, R. Skuse; S. Morgan, B. Sturnham; C. Short, M. Salter, R. Oakley. Replacements: B. Daniel for Johnson, half-time; A. Sheriden for Morgan, 55

mins; S. Drahm for Carrington, 78 mins; C. Morgan for Salter, 78 mins.

Referee: G. Doyle.