First quarter tries from Darragh Leader and Bundee Aki set the tone for a workmanlike display from Connacht as they overcame pool rivals Perpignan 22-10 in very testing weather conditions in Galway.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: CONNACHT 22 PERPIGNAN 10
The first of their back-to-back Challenge Cup clashes saw the return of the sideways rain and gale-force winds that the Sportsground is historically famous for. Connacht’s superior game management was evident as Darragh Leader and Bundee Aki both crossed from close range, setting up a 14-0 interval lead.
Australian out-half David Horwitz added a 44th minute penalty to his two first half conversions, the French side reacting with a penalty of their own and Manu Leiataua’s 65th-minute maul try. However, they had their try scorer sin-binned for the final 10 minutes, and replacement Kyle Godwin got over out wide for the hosts’ clinching score.
The result keeps Connacht second in the Pool 3 table, seven points behind unbeaten leaders Sale Sharks and six clear of French clubs Perpignan and Bordeaux-Begles. Head coach Andy Friend spoke of his pride afterwards as the province made it four win in a row, adding to their recent GUINNESS PRO14 triumphs in South Africa and at home to the Dragons.
“I thought we were probably one try shy at the end of the first 40 with that wind behind us,” he admitted. “It’s a competition we definitely want to win. We can control what we can control next week (in Perpignan) and hopefully another win. We won’t be looking at that as a trophy-style game.
“It’s a tough game and another win and winning becomes a habit for you. So we’re pleased with that. And I told the players don’t underestimate the strength of that win given all the circumstances. We just came back from South Africa on Monday, we had 11 changes, a lot of blokes who had to step up. We had a bit of sickness in the camp this week too.
“So against a Perpignan side who, every match that goes by without them winning they get more desperate to win, I’m really proud of them. What I was pleased with in the second half was we did actually back ourselves. When the second big storm came through we probably tightened up a bit more, but you can forgive the fellas for that.”
5,011 spectators brave the bitterly cold conditions, eager to see what damage Connacht could do with the backing of that big wind blowing towards Lough Atalia. Horwitz clattered the post with his first place-kick of the afternoon before the hosts’ territorial advantage paid off with a ninth-minute opening try.
Following some set piece pressure exerted by the forwards, full-back Leader came from deep onto a pop pass to crash over at the posts and give Horwitz a straightforward conversion. A booming clearance kick from James Mitchell soon turned defence into attack for Connacht, who kept the pressure on with young debutant centre Kieran Joyce charging down Enzo Selponi’s attempted clearance.
The Connacht pack gained ground from another scrum and Aki proved unstoppable in the carry, putting his head down to burrow over for his third try of the season. Horwitz made it 14-0 heading into the second quarter, during which Perpignan posed more of a threat in attack. They were foiled by a Finlay Bealham turnover, five metres out, and then Cian Kelleher’s covering of a cross-field kick.
The loss of second row Yohann Vivalda to the sin-bin after a high tackle had the Frenchmen back on the defensive approaching half-time. The teams resumed with Connacht facing into the elements, their impressive handling and a Peter McCabe run leading to a penalty in front of the posts which Horwitz converted.
Jonathan Bousquet’s excellently-struck penalty opened Perpignan’s account at 17-3, and they hit double figures with a quarter of an hour remaining. Connacht, who tried their best to build phases and make headway through the heavy rain showers, had threatened through replacement out-half Conor Fitzgerald but his kick through from a charge-down went into touch.
Instead it was the visitors who clawed it back to a seven-point deficit, Selponi setting up a close-in lineout from a penalty and the maul delivered for replacement front rower Leitaua to barge over. Bousquet also added a classy touchline conversion. But Leitaua was soon sin-binned for objecting to one of referee Karl Dickson’s decisions.
Connacht coolly settled the issue with their third and final try, four minutes from the end. Their ever-industrious forwards, including man-of-the-match Quinn Roux, did the donkey work again, pressing from turnover ball before Godwin used his pace and power to finish expertly under pressure from three covering defenders.
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