Connacht power through to semis

Connacht 19 Grenoble 3 (Connacht win 45-24 on aggregate)

First-half tries from flankers Matt Lacey and Michael Swift helped Connacht power through to a second successive European Challenge Cup semi-final as Dean Richards’ Grenoble side were overpowered 19-3 in the quarter-final, second leg in Galway.

Michael Bradley’s men, who suffered the early loss of veteran fly-half Eric Elwood to injury, grabbed their sixth aggregate win over French opposition in two seasons to set up a likely last-four date with 2002 winners Sale Sharks.

It was a bitter pill for former England and Lions number eight Richards to swallow as Grenoble substitute Maxime Suarez was also red-carded with 10 minutes remaining for a reckless head butt.

Scoring back-to-back leg wins for the first time in the campaign, Bradley’s charges struck early.

A smart Chris Keane break after seven minutes set up Australian Paul Warwick, who shifted from outside-centre to number 10 after Elwood’s departure, for an 18 metre drop-goal.

After Tongan lock Alifeleti Fakaongo had knocked on with the Connacht try-line under threat, Lacey started and finished a fine 21st-minute forward drive, initiated by Warwick’s huge cut out pass.

The score went unconverted and so too did Swift’s effort after 32 minutes, following Keane’s searing midfield break.

France international David Aucagne then snapped the deficit back to 13-3 at the break with a late 35m penalty.

If Warwick, Connacht’s undoubted star in the tournament with 82 points in four starts, was off-colour with his right boot in the first half the 24-year-old eased their nerves in the second as two penalties after 54 and 77 minutes - completing his nine-point haul – eased the Irish province through.

By that stage Grenoble fly-half replacement Suarez had received his marching orders from Welsh referee Hugh Watkins and the Grenoble challenge petered out.