Resilient Connacht still in reckoning for Champions Cup

Connacht secured the vital four points to maintain their grip on the sixth place in the Pro12 when edging 14-man Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Connacht will be more than satisfied to have exited Rodney Parade with their eighth win of the season.With Ulster edging out Edinburgh in Murrayfield, and Munster forcing a late draw with Scarlets in Llanelli, it allowed Connacht to move two points clear of the Welsh outfit in the fight to play Champions Cup rugby next season.

In control

Connacht, always in control, held a 17-11 lead after a first half marked by the dismissal of Dragons’ captain, lock Rynard Landman, for an of-the-ball elbow into Jack Carty’s head. It came in the 14th minute when Connacht were leading by 10-3.

Their reply to Tom Prydie's opening score was swift, capitalising on an illegal tackle on scrumhalf John Cooney. From a penalty kick to touch, centre Craig Ronaldson crashed his way through three tacklers and Carty added the extras for seven-point lead.

It was one-way traffic for the next 10 minutes when Connacht were able to put the home side under territorial pressure. Although Carty missed two penalties, it was Eoghan Masterson, in his first start, who added the second try on 23 minutes. The youngster broke through the central defence from a lineout to set up field position and, after several phases, he had the composure to roll out of a tackle to touch down, with Carty converting.

However the replacement of flanker Nick Cudd with veteran Ian Gough seemed to ignite the home side, and they wrested control for the next 20 minutes.

After a succession of penalties, centre Dixon set up the dummy run for Welsh squad member Hallam Amos to cross in the right corner, and before the break Connacht were unlucky to concede a breakdown penalty which saw Prydie bring the home side within a score.

It took Connacht 16 minutes before they could add to their tally after the restart but with the wind behind them, Connacht were able to keep pressure on the home side.

Ball retention

Good ball retention was rewarded with a penalty which Darragh Leader struck well, and three minutes he stretched the lead to 23 - 11.

The Dragons, however, never let up. From a rare foothold in Connacht territory, Dorian Jones’s penalty found touch 10 metres out, and after some 20 phases centre, their perseverance was rewarded when Jack Dixon crossed and Prydie’s conversion brought the 14-man team within five points with 14 minutes remaining.

Connacht finally produced the opportunity to put the game out of reach in the final 10 minutes. Mick Kearney successfully blocked down an attempted clearance, and won the touchdown to seal the match in the 77th minute with Leader adding the extras.

The Dragons were rewarded for their valiant effort with a second Amos try to grab a consolation bonus point.