Connacht Cough Up Lead As Cardiff Strike Late

The gods were not smiling on Connacht at the Arms Park on Friday after what was arguably their finest display of the season so far. In the end, two quick-fire tries from winger Tom James gave Cardiff a bonus point victory but that does not even begin to tell the tale of this encounter.

Listen To Michael Bradley’s Post-Match Reaction

Listen To John Muldoon’s Post-Match Reaction

Cardiff v Connacht Match Photos

Connacht trailed by 14-9 at half-time but emerged in the second half with renewed vigour. The visitors dominated the third quarter, eventually making it count on the scoreboard with a try from replacement scrum half Conor O’Loughlin and conversion from deadly accurate out-half Tim Donnelly.

That gave Connacht a two-point lead but perhaps it was too early a juncture for Michael Bradley’s men to be contemplating a famous win as Cardiff had twenty minutes to pull themselves out of trouble.

Their efforts in the closing stages warranted the victory but it was a debatable call from referee Peter Fitzgibbon that ultimately killed off any hope for Connacht.

Fitzgibbon’s first pivotal call was clear cut – winger Ofisa Treviranus was sin-binned on 63 minutes for coming in from the side five metres from the line, as Connacht clung on after good attacking play from the home side. Replacement Nick Macleod tapped over to put his side back in front at 17-16.

The referee’s second call rankled the visitors with John Fogarty harshly penalised for offside when he looked to have come from behind the back foot to tackle the in-possession Jason Spice at the base of a ruck.

Fogarty protested over the decision and for this he was sin-binned, putting Connacht down to 13 men and effectively out of contention. Macleod made no mistake with the kick.

As Connacht went in search of a reprieve, Cardiff struck twice on the counter attack with James, now the league’s top try scorer with five touchdowns, finishing on both occasions as the numerical advantage told.  Late surges on the Cardiff line almost yielded a losing bonus point for the westerners but in the end it was a case of what might have been.

Connacht would have been in front at half-time but for Martyn Williams’ injury-time try. It came at the end of some intense Cardiff pressure in the Connacht half but it was still fortuitous with the flanker taking advantage of a mix-up in the scrambling Connacht defence. Blair’s conversion left it 14-9.

Connacht’s points had all come from the boot of Australian newcomer Donnelly after a half of high pressure rugby with plenty of kicking and a well organised chase by the visitors.

The outstanding Gavin Duffy, returning from World Cup duty, was pivotal to the game-plan. Full-back Duffy made a 50-yard break to create the opening for O’Loughlin’s try in the second half.

Cardiff had scored the game’s opening try midway through the first period with full-back Ben Blair scoring, but for the large part they showed little sign of really cutting lose. It was not until the last quarter that they showed their best form. Connacht will be encouraged but go home pointless for the third week in a row.