It was never going to be an easy task playing in sub-zero temperatures over 6,000km from home, but Connacht got their European Challenge Cup campaign off to a satisfying start with a 31-14 bonus point win over Russian side Enisei-STM in Krasnoyarsk.
Despite temperatures reaching as low as -27 degrees celsius in the Siberian city, this Pool 1 opener at Central Stadium went ahead as scheduled at 3pm local time/8am Irish time.
On his first start for Connacht, USA international out-half AJ MacGinty kicked three penalties in the first half, while four tries followed in the second period through Niyi Adeolokun, captain John Muldoon, Darragh Leader and Rory Parata.
Debutant centre Peter Robb quickly got into his stride, making a promising early break from the Connacht 10-metre line up towards the hosts’ 22. A nerve-settling opening penalty from MacGinty followed in the sixth minute.
Some pressure from Enisei saw them get into scoring range and Connacht needed a try-saving tackle from scrum half Ian Porter, before full-back Iurii Kushnarev pushed a long range penalty wide for the Russians.
Try-scoring chances were few and far between, with Enisei maintaining a stern defence. They managed to hold out past the half hour mark despite a ground-gaining Connacht maul from 10 metres out.
The westerners had a lineout ball turned over from a penalty, however MacGinty soon knocked over his second successful penalty four minutes before the break for a 6-0 scoreline.
The Dublin-born half-back, who exerted admirable control in extremely cold conditions, increased his influence with a 43rd minute penalty for 9-0, rewarding young lock Ultan Dillane for his work at the breakdown.
By the 50-minute mark, Connacht had tightened their grip on proceedings with the game’s first try. MacGinty hit the crossbar with a penalty attempt from the 10-metre line, inrushing winger Adeolokun knocked on, but from the resulting Enisei scrum, the Connacht pack pushed them off the ball and George Naoupu and Bundee Aki combined to put Adeolokun over in the left corner.
MacGinty’s conversion effort fell short, yet the province were celebrating their second try just minutes later. They stretched their lead to 19-0 as skipper Muldoon made it over in the right corner, following a powerful burst from the excellent Aki and some good interplay closer in.
Connacht debutant Sean O’Brien was then sprung from the bench and it was his strong carry, coupled with some neat distribution among the backs and a final pass from Aki, that paved the way for full-back Leader’s 62nd-minute try.
Enisei enjoyed a better share of the play in the closing stages, working replacement prop Andrei Polivalov over for a brace of consolation tries. But, in between, Connacht sealed their bonus point when MacGinty’s cross-field kick was gathered by right winger Parata for a well-taken score which Leader converted.
That completed a very solid afternoon’s work for Pat Lam’s men as they took home five pool points and gave a number of youngsters exposure to the second tier European tournament, with seasonal bows too for the fit-again Ronan Loughney, Caolin Blade and Daniel Qualter.
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