Baptism of fire for Elwood at the Sportsground

Connacht 7 Harlequins 40

In Eric Elwood's first game in charge, Connacht kicked off their pre-season campaign with a heavy home defeat to a sharp and unforgiving Harlequins side at the Sportsground tonight.

The Aviva Premiership outfit built up a 21-0 lead by the half hour mark but a Conor O'Loughlin try just before half-time had Connacht back in contention for the early stages of the second half.

However, with both sides making the usual raft of changes around the hour mark, the game lost shape and Harlequins proved to be sharper in attack and defence, scoring three tries in the final quarter to mark a comfortable victory.

Connacht were without numerous front line players, Sean Cronin and Gavin Duffy are on extended breaks due to their involvement with Ireland's summer tour, while John Muldoon, Keith Matthews and Frank Murphy are on the current injury list.

That list was added to early on with stand-in captain Johnny O'Connor forced off with what looked like a leg injury. Ray Ofisa took his place and performed well but Connacht were left reeling from a 14-minute spell around the midway point of the half.

Watched by director of rugby Conor O'Shea, Harlequins scored three quick tries with Nick Evans getting the first, hooker Matt Cairns notching up number two while Mike Brown rounded off their first half scoring on 28 minutes. The hugely influential Evans kicked all three conversions.

O'Loughlin's try came on the stroke of half-time. It was a solo effort that stemmed from his alertness in taking a quick tap penalty on halfway and bursting through a huge hole before cantering home under the posts, Ian Keatley converted.

Connacht were more alert and aggressive on defence in the early stages of the second half, somewhat making amends for their first half errors.

Replacements Mike McCarthy and Ofsa were to the fore at this stage but the interchanging towards the midway point of the half brought an end to the promising spell.

'Quins finished very much in the ascendency although their first try of the second half came completely against the run of the play. Tom Williams intercepted Ezra Taylor's pass as Connacht were on the attack in the visitors' half. The winger sprinted half the length of the pitch to score.

That put an end to any hopes of a revival and tries from Ceri Jones and Gonzalo Camacho in the closing stages left an uneasy look on the scoreboard for the large home support to ponder.

Connacht will hope for considerable improvements ahead of next Saturday's final pre-season tussle with Saracens.