CONNACHT’S WINNING RUN in the Pro12 came to a halt in Wales tonight when they fell to their first defeat in seven league games, after eight straight wins in all competitions.
It has been a familiar graveyard for Connacht over the years and they were always chasing the game in Cardiff. The hosts showed little sign of a side which had lost eight league games on the spin as they took the game to Connacht in the opening stages.
And they were rewarded for their ambition when a penalty to the left corner yielded a deserved opening try after just five minutes for No.8 Manoa Vosawai, which Rhys Patchell converted.
The Connacht response was excellent with John Muldoon, the first player to play 200 league games, crowning the occasion with another big display.
Connacht cut the gap when scrum-half Ian Porter did superbly in the left corner to score his first try for the province, gathering an excellent Matt Healy offload before stepping into the corner.
https://vine.co/v/iW9U1J6nJ9B
He was also on kicking duties but his conversion from the left hit the right post and stayed out.
Porter’s luck was clearly out as he also hit that post with the conversion of Connacht’s second try after Eoin McKeon had gone over in the right corner after a good lineout move.
Porter finally split the uprights to give Connacht a 13-10 lead when he converted a penalty from close range after Patchell had done likewise for the Blues.
Daylight
Patchell missed an easy penalty for Cardiff eight minutes after the restart but they were again rewarded when they went to the corner, moving the ball from right to left for Tom James to score after 55 minutes, with Patchell converting to make it 17-13 to the Blues.
Patchell out further daylight between them with a penalty from half way with 16 minutes left.
Connacht hit back and Jack Carty cut the gap to four with 12 minutes left with a penalty in front of the posts after another good break by full-back Tiernan O’Halloran.
A superb break by Bundee Aki almost yielded a superb breakaway try six minutes from time but the Blues got back to force a turnover.
Connacht then forced a turnover which led to a penalty to the corner but their hopes of a try were dashed when the TMO spotted a knock-on as Connacht tried to ground the ball.
Scorers
Cardiff Blues
Tries: M Vosawai, T James.
Conversions: R Patchell (2).
Penalties: R Patchell (2)
Connacht:
Tries: I Porter, E McKeon.
Penalties: I Porter, J Carty
Cardiff Blues: Rhys Patchell; Alex Cuthbert, Ray Lee-Lo, Gavin Evans, Tom James; Jarrod Evans (Dan Fish ‘55), Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt) (Sam Hobbs ’62)), Ethan Lewis (Kristian Dacey ’50), Taufa’ao Filise (Craig Mitchell ‘58), Jarrod Hoeata, Lou Reed (James Down ‘50), Macauley Cook, Josh Turnbull, Manoa Vosawai (Cam Dolan ’77)..
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson (Peter Robb ‘8)), Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Ian Porter (Kieran Marmion ’41, (Rory Parata ’42); Ronan Loughney (Conan O’Donnell ’72)), Dave Heffernan, Rodney Ah You (Finlay Bealham ‘57); Quinn Roux (George Naoupu ’39), Aly Muldowney; John Muldoon (captain), James Connolly, Eoin McKeon (Sean O’Brien ’58))
Connacht's winning run ends at eight as Cardiff limit Westerners in second half
Cardiff Blues 20
Connacht 16
John Fallon reports from the Arms Park
CONNACHT’S WINNING RUN in the Pro12 came to a halt in Wales tonight when they fell to their first defeat in seven league games, after eight straight wins in all competitions.
It has been a familiar graveyard for Connacht over the years and they were always chasing the game in Cardiff. The hosts showed little sign of a side which had lost eight league games on the spin as they took the game to Connacht in the opening stages.
And they were rewarded for their ambition when a penalty to the left corner yielded a deserved opening try after just five minutes for No.8 Manoa Vosawai, which Rhys Patchell converted.
The Connacht response was excellent with John Muldoon, the first player to play 200 league games, crowning the occasion with another big display.
Connacht cut the gap when scrum-half Ian Porter did superbly in the left corner to score his first try for the province, gathering an excellent Matt Healy offload before stepping into the corner.
https://vine.co/v/iW9U1J6nJ9B
He was also on kicking duties but his conversion from the left hit the right post and stayed out.
Porter’s luck was clearly out as he also hit that post with the conversion of Connacht’s second try after Eoin McKeon had gone over in the right corner after a good lineout move.
Porter finally split the uprights to give Connacht a 13-10 lead when he converted a penalty from close range after Patchell had done likewise for the Blues.
Daylight
Patchell missed an easy penalty for Cardiff eight minutes after the restart but they were again rewarded when they went to the corner, moving the ball from right to left for Tom James to score after 55 minutes, with Patchell converting to make it 17-13 to the Blues.
Patchell out further daylight between them with a penalty from half way with 16 minutes left.
Connacht hit back and Jack Carty cut the gap to four with 12 minutes left with a penalty in front of the posts after another good break by full-back Tiernan O’Halloran.
A superb break by Bundee Aki almost yielded a superb breakaway try six minutes from time but the Blues got back to force a turnover.
Connacht then forced a turnover which led to a penalty to the corner but their hopes of a try were dashed when the TMO spotted a knock-on as Connacht tried to ground the ball.
Scorers
Cardiff Blues
Tries: M Vosawai, T James.
Conversions: R Patchell (2).
Penalties: R Patchell (2)
Connacht:
Tries: I Porter, E McKeon.
Penalties: I Porter, J Carty
Cardiff Blues: Rhys Patchell; Alex Cuthbert, Ray Lee-Lo, Gavin Evans, Tom James; Jarrod Evans (Dan Fish ‘55), Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt) (Sam Hobbs ’62)), Ethan Lewis (Kristian Dacey ’50), Taufa’ao Filise (Craig Mitchell ‘58), Jarrod Hoeata, Lou Reed (James Down ‘50), Macauley Cook, Josh Turnbull, Manoa Vosawai (Cam Dolan ’77)..
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson (Peter Robb ‘8)), Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Ian Porter (Kieran Marmion ’41, (Rory Parata ’42); Ronan Loughney (Conan O’Donnell ’72)), Dave Heffernan, Rodney Ah You (Finlay Bealham ‘57); Quinn Roux (George Naoupu ’39), Aly Muldowney; John Muldoon (captain), James Connolly, Eoin McKeon (Sean O’Brien ’58))
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Ireland Women finish 12th in Dubai 7s as men get off the mark
Henderson stretchered off as Ulster injuries mount during win over Edinburgh
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Connacht feeling the blues John Muldoon Pro12 Report Cardiff Blues