Connacht labour against Cardiff but end four-game losing streak
Piers O'Conor of Connacht in action against Cardiff Rugby players Rey Lee-Lo, right, and Callum Sheedy during the United Rugby Championship match between Connacht and Cardiff Rugby at Dexcom Stadium in Galway. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Man of the match Shamus Hurley-Langton said Connacht made it hard on themselves but they are just delighted to get the bonus point win to end a four-match losing run in the URC.
They surrendered a 19-0 lead after 48 minutes to find themselves all square ten minutes from the end against a Cardiff side who had the wind behind them.
But Connacht countered and were rewarded for going to the corner as they secured the win and the bonus point.
“We made it pretty hard on ourselves in the second half,” said Hurley-Langton. “But I think we had a really good first half, and if we can keep that, get a consistency throughout the game, I think we'll be able to finish off some games a bit better.
“The last time we played them, they were really good to break down. They stole a lot of ball from us. So that was something we're looking at all week, And we just wanted to be really good in that area. But it was still really hard.”Â
Connacht, backed by the strong wind blowing into the Bohermore end, led 14-0 at the break having enjoyed 59% possession.
Scrum-half Ben Murphy, one of five uncapped players returning to them from Irish camp, gave them a perfect start when he darted over for his eighth try in 12 appearances after being set up by a neat pop pass from his half-back partner Josh Ioane who converted.
Murphy had a second try wiped for an infringement in the build-up but they increased their lead after 18 minutes when flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton crowned his 50th appearance for Connacht when he finished after a good lineout take from skipper Cian Prendergast had set up the opportunity after hooker Dave Heffernan had won the penalty.
Ioane added the conversion but he missed a penalty from 30 metres in front of the posts as Connacht tried to extend their lead six minutes from the break after they had let a couple of opportunities slip.
Cardiff pressed after the restart but the Connacht defence was solid and they seemed to wrap up the game when Ioane, after earlier miscalculating a kick, landed a penalty into the right corner and hooker Dave Heffernan got over for their third try to make it 19-0 after 48 minutes.
But Cardiff hit back. Winger Shayne Bolton twice saved Connacht as he denied replacement Jacob Beetham and then full-back Cam Winnett in the left corner.
However, Ray Lee-Lo got over after a tapped penalty with Callum Sheedy’s conversion cutting the gap to 19-7 after 53 minutes.
The 16 minutes from time Ben Donnell scored in the left corner after Cardiff created a good overlap but Sheedy was wide with the conversion.
And then ten minutes from time Cardiff broke from deep and Callum Braley got their third try which Sheedy converted to tie the sides at 19-19.
However, Connacht clawed out the win, turning down a penalty on the 22 four minutes from time with JJ Hanrahan going to the corner and it proced the correct decision as replacement hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin squeezed over to secure the win and the bonus point.
: Tries: B Murphy, S Hurley-Langton, D Heffernan, D Tierney-Martin. Cons: J Ioane (2).
Tries: R Lee-Lo, B Donnell, C Braley. Cons: C Sheedy (2).
P O’Conor (JJ Hanrahan 54); S Bolton, H Gavin, C Forde, C Mullins (S Codero 42); J Ioane, B Murphy (M Devine 54), P Dooley (J Duggan 54), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 61), J Aungier (S Illo 22-30, 61); J Murphy (O Dowling 61), J Joyce; C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle (S Jansen 15-25).
C Winnett; G Hamer-Webb, R Lee-Lo, R Jennings, H Millard (J Beetham 4, C Braley 60); C Sheedy, J Mulder; R Barratt (D Southworth 60), L Belcher (E Daniel 60), R Litterick; J McNally, S Davies (R Thormton 61); A Mann (B Donnell 61), D Thomas (T Young 60), A Lawrence.
Hollie Davidson (Scotland).Â
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