Third Welsh side bows to Connacht

Connacht survived a penalty attempt from Shane Howarth with the last kick of the game in an ill-disciplined Celtic League game against Newport at Rodney Parade last night to register their third win over Welsh opposition this season.

Connacht had already beaten Cardiff, at the Arms Park and Neath in Galway.

Newport outhalf Jason Strange opened the scoring inside five minutes with his first of two penalties but Mark McHugh levelled matters in the 13th minute when Newport were penalised for holding on at a ruck.

Newport captain Simon Raiwalui was the first player to be yellow-carded - for a punch on Mark McConnell. McHugh converted the ensuing penalty and McConnell was helped from the field clearly dazed to be replaced by Alan Maher.

Referee John Barnard continued to dominate matters with his whistle much to the frustration of the Newport crowd.

Strange levelled from another penalty in the 32nd minute but Connacht went ahead four minutes from half-time when Wayne Munn intercepted a pass just inside the Newport half to stretch clear for McHugh to convert.

Connacht were soon down to 14 men in the second half when Johnny O'Connor was yellow carded for a high tackle, and an injury to McHugh brought an end to his night. But within a matter of a minute of coming on, Eric Elwood was limping.

However, Elwood made it 16-6 with a penalty after Paul Young was carded for back chat and that was a significant score.

Newport should have scored when they created a three-man overlap minutes later but Jason Jones-Hughes dropped the ball 10 metres out. Strange missed his first kick of the night in the 53rd minute and Newport were then denied a try when Adrian Garvey was adjudged to have made a double movement after being held up on the line.

Connacht were defending magnificently but replacement Shane Howarth kicked a penalty to reduce their lead.

Peter Bracken was the next to be shown a yellow card for not retreating 10 metres but Howarth missed the penalty.

However, Connacht's joy was short-lived because with five minutes remaining Andrew Powell dashed in at the corner but Howarth missed the conversion. To complete a bad night of place-kicking, Howarth then missed that late chance to win the game.

NEWPORT: M Pini; M Watkins, J Jones-Hughes, N Brew, B Breeze; J Strange (S Howarth 63 mins), D Burn; C Jones, P Young (J Richards 57 mins), C Anthony, G Taylor (M Voyle 64 mins), S Raiwalui (capt), A Powell, J Forster, A Popham (P Buxton 56 mins).

CONNACHT: G Duffy; M McPhail, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; M McHugh (E Elwood 42 mins), O Reddan; R McCormack (D Macfarland 65 mins), M Uijs (T Kearns 72 mins), P Bracken, R Frost, M McConnell (capt), A Maher 17 mins), P Neville (J Charlie 65 mins), J O'Connor, D Dillon.

Referee: J Barnard (RFU).