Early push not enough for Connacht

Edinburgh 49 Connacht 31

Edinburgh came out on top against a dogged Connacht side in the Magners League tonight.

It was Connacht who took the attention early on, and their sharpness was rewarded in the sixth minute.

Veteran home stand-off Duncan Hodge dropped a pass from a scrum. Visiting scrum-half Conor O'Loughlin pounced on it and several pairs of hands later winger Conor McPhillips was touching down with Paul Warwick converting from touch.

Second from bottom of the Magners League, Connacht continued to look lively until a Scott Murray burst suddenly sparked life into the home side.

The vital try to get back into it was scored by another comeback man, Rob Dewey, who sold a lovely dummy to open up the line.

It suddenly became all Edinburgh and after Ben Cairns had sent Simon Webster to the Connacht corner the visitors over-threw at the line out - to Ally Strokosch who battered over. With Hodge converting both, Edinburgh led 14-7 after 20 minutes.

Warwick pulled back a penalty from the re-start but Edinburgh returned to the attack. Their third try arrived when Webster, who seemed back to his best, shot though centre field before unloading to Dewey who touched down by the posts with Hodge converting.

Connacht then got back into it with a second McPhillips try converted by Warwick who had shot through a static Edinburgh defence, so Edinburgh were thankful for a last-minute penalty from Hodge that let them turn 24-14 ahead.

Within 90 seconds of the restart Edinburgh had the bonus point, John Senio getting over from close in with Hodge converting and soon adding a penalty.

In the 50th minute Webster added a spectacular try, running back a clearing kick through despairing tackles.

Hodge converted but Connacht still had life, grabbing a try through Dan Riordan with Warwick converting.

In a tight finish, Webster had a second try and Phil Godman kicked a penalty for Edinburgh while David Gannon scored Connacht's fourth try converted by David Slemen.

Ally Hogg came through the 80 minutes unscathed to prove his fitness to Scotland boss Frank Hadden ahead of the upcoming Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham, having missed much of the season, including the autumn internationals before making an aborted comeback.

While Hogg came through only his seventh Magners League game of the season unscathed, Webster seemed ready for Twickenham.