Rugby

Connacht move into URC playoff places but Dragons win comes at a cost

A red card for Ben Carter swung the contest in Connacht’s favour as they prevailed with a bonus point

Bundee Aki of Connacht in action against the Dragons. Photograph: Ashley Crowden/Inpho

Sun Apr 28 2024 - 15:50
URC: Dragons 27 Connacht 34

Connacht, having forced their way the top eight spot in the URC with a hard-earned win over Dragons in Rodney Parade, are now counting the cost of injuries.

Outhalf JJ Hanrahan, who has taken ownership of the number 10 jersey, is the most serious of three players sidelined on Saturday night having suffered a right knee injury. And with Jack Carty also sidelined, head coach Pete Wilkins says the club is “keeping everything crossed for him because he’s enormously important to us.”

Prop Denis Buckley took a blow to his AC joint, while Cian Prendergast suffered a dislocated thumb in what was a vital win to keep Connacht’s play-off hopes alive. While not pretty, it was a dogged performance and Wilkins believes results are all that matters at this stage of the season.

“To be going into these last three games where we are up to sixth now, and it was not long ago we were sitting in tenth, that is the important bit. We are moving in the right direction in terms of the table - it will keep changing no doubt, but as long as we are winning, that is the most important thing.”

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Although Connacht did not make it easy on themselves,  the Dragons showed real character to ensure a tense contest until the final whistle.

Conancht led at half-time, thanks to a dream start when flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton scored within three minutes. But the home side never let them get out of sight and replied through Steff Hughes within three minutes. Their robust defence at the breakdown then kept Connacht at bay until the fleet-footed Matthew Devine paved the way for Finlay Bealham to crash over for the second after 20 minutes.

Joe Joyce of Connacht carries into the Dragons defence. Photograph: Ashley Crowden/Inpho

Connacht added a third when Bundee Aki put John Porch away, before the Dragons responded again when the impressive Rhodri Williams raced between defenders to score before the break.

Keen to hit the ground running after the restart, Connacht won a 42nd minute penalty. And with Elliot Dee subsequently yellow-carded, man of the match Joe Joyce controlled the resulting lineout drive which was finished by Dave Heffernan for that fourth try and a bonus point.

As always, the home side never went away. Cai Evans cut the deficit to just seven again before converting a try from Rio Dyer to level the game after 56 minutes.  And with both outhalves slotting penalties before Connacht lost Hanrahan, it set up a final tense 15 minutes.

However, the puff went out of the Dragons when losing lock Ben Carter to a red card, and from that penalty the visitors eventually scored through Dylan Tierney Martin, with Cathal Forde adding the extras.Dragons RFC: J Williams; R Dyer, S Hughes (capt), A Owen, E Rosser; C Evans, R Williams; R Jones, E Dee, C Coleman; B Carter, M Screech; H Keddie, T Basham, A Wainwright.

Replacements: G Nott for Wainwright (40 mins), J Benjamin for Rosser (52-55,), R Martinez for R Jones (58-71), C Hope for R Willians and J Westwood for A Owen( both 74).

Connacht: T O’Halloran; S Jennings, T Farrell, B Aki, J Porch; JJ Hanrahan, M Devine; D Buckley, D Heffernan (capt), F Bealham; J Joyce, G Thornbury; S Hurley-Langton, C Oliver, C Prendergast.

Replacements : P Dooley for Buckley (6 mins), P Boyle for Prendergast (14), O Dowling for Thornbury (50), S Illo for Bealham, J Butler for Oliver and C Blade for Devine (all 63), C Forde for Hanrahan and Tierney Martin for Heffernan (both 67).

Yellow card: E Dee (43),

Red card: B Carter (69).

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

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