Connacht outclassed

MAGNERS LEAGUE REPORTS: Edinburgh 32 Connacht 5:CONNACHT FELL to another Magners League defeat at Murrayfield last night as Edinburgh picked up a bonus point in the final minute.

Connacht traded on parity for most of the opening half but failed to turn possession into scores and went in 13-0 adrift. But Edinburgh stepped on the gas after the restart and took control of the game, the only surprise being that they had to wait until the final minute to secure the bonus point.

Ian Keatley was off target with two penalties in the opening half which would have given Connacht some reward for an excellent scrum and lineout.

Edinburgh hit the front at the end of the first quarter with a pushover try from impressive prop Kyle Traynor. Chris Paterson added the points and kicked a penalty six minutes later from 42 metres.

Edinburgh increased their lead when Paterson landed his third kick of the half. Connacht, who lost prop Robbie Morris to injury in the opening half, then lost scrum-half Kieran Campbell and lock Michael Swift, due to heavy knocks, after 49 minutes.

Hooker Ross Ford made the game safe for the home side after some superb handling through the three-quarters after 52 minutes.

Two minutes later they added a third try through Turnbull.

Connacht flanker Ray Ofisa was yellow-carded after 58 minutes.

But Edinburgh failed to score when they had the extra man and Connacht struck when Conor O’Loughlin tapped a penalty and the ball was quickly spread across by Andy Dunne and Keith Matthews for Troy Nathan to score in the left corner after 73 minutes.

Edinburgh claimed the bonus point with the final play as Allister Hogg finished a good move to cap a good night for the home side.

EDINBURGH: C Paterson; A Turnbull, B Cairns, N De Luca, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair; K Traynor, R Ford, G Cross; C Hamilton, J Hamilton; S Newlands, A McDonald, A Hogg. Replacements: M Mustchin for McDonald (13 mins), A Kelly for Ford (69 mins), S MacLeod for C Hamilton (69 mins), G Laidlaw for Blair (69 mins), D Blair for Godman (69 mins).

CONNACHT: T Nathan; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, K Campbell; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley; A Browne, R Ofisa, J Muldoon. Replacements: R Loughney for Morris (26 mins), C O'Loughlin for Campbell (49 mins), D Gannon for Swift (49 mins), J O'Connor for Farley (53 mins), A Flavin for Cronin (62 mins), A Dunne for Keatley (67 mins), M Deane for Matthews (77 mins).

Referee: D Bodilly (Wales).