Connacht forced to climb mountain at home again

European Challenge Cup/Narbonne - 25 Connacht - 11: There is nothing quite like a 14-point deficit to focus the mind, and coach Michael Bradley will be hoping that psychological battle is won by his Connacht charges in their European Challenge Cup return leg against Narbonne next weekend.

The French outfit came up trumps on home soil on Saturday evening, avenging last season's loss in the Parc des Sports et de l'Amitie with a superior 3-1 try count.

Connacht now know exactly what they have to produce if they harbour any ambitions to reach last year's lofty heights in the competition.

They possess the benefit of having been there before and succeeding. Two seasons ago Connacht qualified for the quarter-finals by a single aggregate point against Narbonne when overhauling a 15-points deficit from the first leg.

"It's achievable, but hard work," says Bradley. "Next week it's important we start well and are more astute in terms of how we maintain possession instead of giving it to them."

Although Narbonne were only three points to the good at half-time, in part due to strong Connacht cover where full back Mark McHugh excelled as the last line of defence, the Irish province simply failed to get their hands on the ball long enough to create many chances.

Eric Elwood, who was a late replacement for Paul Warwick at outhalf, did have an early chance but he was unable to add to his illustrious European scoring record. McHugh, too, forced a drop goal attempt that sailed wide, and thereafter it was Narbonne who set the pace.

Yet the half-time deficit did not suggest Connacht would be facing a 20-point deficit by the 64th minute. The strong running of centre Jean-Phillippe Viard and right wing Frederic Lartigue had posed a threat throughout, but it was nothing Connacht had been unable to contain. The prospects of Connacht repeating last season's first away victory to Narbonne in four seasons looked possible until they conceded two tries in 15 minutes.

Narbonne had displayed greater acumen than previous years in opting to take their kicks at goal with Cedric Rosalen extending the lead to six points after the restart. But with the Connacht forwards getting on top in both lineouts and scrums, it was something of a surprise when Narbonne's number eight Bertrand Bedes tore through the defence from a back-pedalling scrum.

The break manifested itself in an opening try after 51 minutes when David Douy was able to scoop up Rosalen's clever angled kick and dive over.

While both sides spurned penalty kicks, Connacht's inability to cope with the counterattack reared its head again. Displaying greater fluidity in attack, James Downey had found the gap before being brought down yards from the line. Yet within seconds they conceded a penalty try when McHugh brought down Viard in a race for possession.

It set Connacht a massive task, but they responded with typical determination. McHugh opened their scoring in the 70th minute with a 35-metre penalty, and added another five minutes later.

The full back also completed his scoring tally when finishing a well-worked back-line move from a penalty kicked to touch, bringing Connacht to within nine points in nine minutes.

It was disappointing then that Connacht conceded a defendable try at the death when Lartigue crossed in the right corner.

"It made a difference. Certainly we would have been happy keeping them within nine points, but 14 points is achievable if everything goes right for us," said Bradley. "We always knew Narbonne would be up for the match at home, and they took their chances, but now it gives us the challenge of ensuring we are focused for the home match and that could be to our advantage."

SCORING SEQUENCE: 12 mins: C Rosalen drop goal, 3-0; half-time: 3-0; 48 mins: Rosalen pen, 6-0; 51 mins: Douy try, Rosalen con, 13-0; 64 mins: penalty try, Rosalen con, 20-0; 70 mins: McHugh pen, 20-3; 75 mins: McHugh pen, 20-6; 79 mins: McHugh try, 20-11; 81 mins: Lartigue try, 25-11.

NARBONNE: L Ferreres; F Lartigue, D Douy, JP Viard, S Barthes; C Rosalen, J Seron; A Martinez, T Algret, F Tournaire, M Sierra, P Short, D Hunter, L Baluc-Rittener, B Bedes. Replacements: G Mololo for Tournaire (half-time), Tournaire for Martinez (43 mins); Laurent Balue for Seron (49 mins); M Dehaese for Baluc-Rittener (52 mins); N Nadau for Rosalen (74 mins); R Palomera for Tournaire (76 mins).

CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, J Downey, T Robinson; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; R Hogan, B Jackman, S Knoop, C Short, A Farley; M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon. Replacements: D McFarland for Hogan (53 mins); C Keane for O'Loughlin (61 mins); J Fogarty for Jackman (64 mins); P Bracken for Knoop (71 mins).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).