Connacht 42 Borders 19
Connacht continued their great run of form with a convincing victory over Borders in their Celtic League tie in Galway this afternoon.
Named European club of the week last Wednesday for their Celtic Cup quarter-final victory over Llanelli at Stradey Park, Connacht have had a fantastic start to the season under new coach Michael Bradley, winning four out of their previous five games so far this campaign.
And they picked up where they had left off in Wales, racing into a 14-0 lead inside the first minutes at the Sportsgrounds.
The first try came after just five minutes when, after keeping possession through at least six phases, Mark McHugh fed Matt Mostyn on the wing for a score in the corner converted by Eric Elwood.
Former Ireland fly-half Elwood repeated the task 12 minutes later when he converted Paul Neville's try as Connacht took control.
Borders quickly gathered their composure, however, as centre Kevin Utterson got the Scots up and running with a 21st-minute try and the visitors were right back in the game eight minutes later when flanker Andy Rennick crashed over the line, Gareth Morton's second conversion of the match bringing the scores level at 14-14.
An Elwood penalty restored the Connacht lead and just before half-time flanker Neville increased the Irish side's advantage further with his second try of the opening period. Elwood converted yet again and Connacht went in at the break defending a 24-14 interval lead.
There was no respite for Borders at the restart, however, as Bradley's side came out of the blocks in impressive fashion, stringing together another fine move which was finished off by back rower Tom Carter, earning Connacht a bonus point for their fourth try of the match.
Elwood successfully converted and added a penalty five minutes later as Connacht moved into a 31-14 lead. Full-back McHugh took over the kicking with a penalty just after the hour but Borders managed a response moments later when Morton ran in for a try in the corner. He missed the chance to convert, though, and Borders looked dead and buried at 37-19 with 15 minutes still to play.
Connacht made sure they were by running down the clock in the Borders half, lock Andrew Farley scoring the fifth try to cap off an excellent display.
Connacht: M. McHugh; M. Mostyn, D. Yapp, S. Moore, W. Munn; E. Elwood,M. Walls; R. Hogan, J. Fogarty, F. Boiroux; D. Browne, A. Farley; P.Neville, T. Carter, J. O'Sullivan.
Replacements: B. Jackman for Fogarty, 49 mins; D. Hewitt for Elwood, 49mins; l A. Clarke for Boiroux, 56 mins; J. Muldoon for Neville, 56 mins;C. O'Loughlin for Walls, 68 mins; T. Robinson for Munn, 70 mins; M.McCarthy for Farley, 72 mins.
The Borders: G. Morton; C. Moir, J. Stuart, K. Utterson, C. Murray; C.Laidlaw, G. Armstrong; K. Todd, S. Scott, C. Dunlea; S. McLeod, C.Stewart; A. Rennick, D. Kane, C. Feather.
Replacements: C. Cusiter for Armstrong, half-time; D. Weir for McLeod,57 mins; T. Walker for Kane, 57 mins; G. Cross for Dunlea, 66 mins.
Referee:D. Davies (Wales).