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Andrew Smith celebrates scoring Connacht's bonus-point try with Tiernan O'Halloran. James Crombie/INPHO

Connacht earn impressive bonus-point victory over Bristol to stay alive in Europe

The western province are guaranteed a spot in the Challenge Cup knockouts after a conclusive beating of Pat Lam’s Bears.

Connacht 27

Bristol Bears 10

John Fallon reports from Dexcom Stadium

A NEW ERA for Connacht was suitably crowned with a statement win against the coach that brought them their only piece of silverware but if the entertainment value at the Dexcom Stadium continues at this level, then they should start planning for a few more stands to accommodate the crowd.

The net result is that Connacht remain in European action and will be in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup in April as they ended a seven-match losing run in the Champions Cup.

Indeed, they could even sneak into the last 16 of the Champions Cup if Saracens capitulate at home to Lyon tomorrow, but Connacht will be just happy to be playing European rugby in April.

Pat Lam’s return to what used to be The Sportsground could hardly have gone much worse as his ill-disciplined and sloppy slide was put to the sword by a fired-up Connacht side.

Connacht got the perfect start when good work by Andrew Smith and David Hawkshaw ended with Shayne Bolton scoring down the left for the opening try.

That score rocked Bristol but they suffered a huge blow six minutes later when lock Josh Caulfield was red-carded when he stamped on the head of Irish prop Finlay Bealham while attempting to plant his leg and enter a breakdown. Bealham had to go off for a HIA.

His temporary replacement Jack Aungier made the most of his cameo when an opening created by captain Caolin Blade ended with Aungier scoring beside the posts while an advantage was being played for a high tackle on Blade.

JJ Hanrahan added the conversion to make it 12-0 as Bristol Bears were dealt another blow as tighthead Kyle Sinkler was binned for an infringement in the build-up.

Connacht failed to increase their lead while they had a two-man advantage and as Sinkler returned, former Connacht out-half AJ MacGinty reduced the margin with a penalty from 25 metres.

But the Connacht response was immediate. They went for the left corner with a 35-metre penalty and after a good take from the recalled lock Niall Murray, Blade sniped over to make it 17-0 after 34 minutes. Jack Carty, on for the injured Hanrahan, was narrowly off with the conversion.

Bristol piled on the pressure before the break but two good lineout steals from Murray, and two try-saving tackles in the space of seconds from Hawkshaw to deny Harry Randall and then Kalaveti Ravouvou, ensured Connacht went in leading by 17-3, much to the joy of the capacity 6,129 crowd.

They had more cause for cheer after the restart. Smith was harshly denied a spectacular try in the right corner but after twice opting for scrums from penalties, Connacht again went wide and Smith scored down the same side Carty added the extras to stretch the lead to 24-3.

Fijian winger Kalaveti Ravoulou sliced through the home defence down the right for what seemed a wonderful try but it was scratched on review as Cian Prendergast and Hawkshaw — again — did enough to dislodge the ball before touchdown.

There was no way back for the Bears after that and Carty closed out the win with a late penalty, with Bristol getting a consolation penalty try at the death.

Scorers: Connacht: Tries: S Bolton, J Aungier, C Blade, A Smith. Cons: J Carty (1 from 2), JJ Hanrahan (1 from 2). Pen: Carty (1 from 1).

Bristol Bears: Penalty try. Pen: AJ MacGinty.

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran (Oran McNulty ’59); Andrew Smith, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton; JJ Hanrahan (Jack Carty ‘29), Caolin Blade (Michael McDonald ’73); Denis Buckley (Peter Dooley ’55), Tadhg McElroy (Dave Heffernan ’55), Finlay Bealham (Jack Aungier ‘14-21, ’41, Bealham ’55); Niall Murray (Oisin Dowling ’60), Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler (Conor Oliver ’60).

Bristol Bears: Max Malins; Kalaeti Ravouvou (Max Lahiff ‘24-31), Virimi Vakatawa (James Williams ’53), Benhand Janse van Rensburg, Gabriel Ibitoye (Piers O’Connor ‘77); AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall (Kieran Marmion ’50); Jake Woolmore (Lahiff ’49), Gabriel Oghre (Will Capon ‘43), Kyle Sinckler (Sam Grahamslaw ’74); Josh Caulfield, Joe Batley; Steve Luatua, Fitz Harding (capt) (Dan Thomas ’61, Joe Owen ‘67), Magnus Bradbury.

Referee: Pierre Brousset, replaced by Pierre Baptiste Nuchy at half-time (Both France).

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36 Comments
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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:37 PM

    How was that Smith try not given? Breathtaking athleticism. Look it up if you haven’t seen it.

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    Mute John Doe
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:38 PM

    @Bert Carolan: completely agree. Would have definitely been try of the season

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    Mute Gary Galligan
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:39 PM

    @Bert Carolan: looks like Hel b in green soon

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    Mute Michael Griffin
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    Jan 19th 2024, 11:06 PM

    @John Doe: something good about Connacht??????major alert someone has hacked john doe’s account.

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    Mute Cg
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    Jan 20th 2024, 12:02 AM

    @Bert Carolan: possibly the greatest disallowed finish of all time?

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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jan 20th 2024, 12:10 AM

    @Cg: He’ll be told in years to come ” that was a great try you nearly scored Andrew”

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    Mute Jonathan Egan
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    Jan 20th 2024, 1:19 AM

    @John Doe: definitely?

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    Mute Karl Murray
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    Jan 20th 2024, 1:35 AM

    @Bert Carolan: Totally agree. I’ve been watching him play really well with the Ireland Sevens.

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    Mute James Murphy
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    Jan 20th 2024, 7:47 AM

    @Karl Murray: is he fresh out of the sevens or what? Have to say I’ve never heard of him, looks class.

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    Mute David Butler Manning
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    Jan 20th 2024, 7:58 AM

    @Bert Carolan: In the end it was the one frame showing his heel slightly over the line that did for him. The way he pivoted his foot out and back in in a flash, his heel can’t have been in contact with the ground though. He couldn’t have moved his foot like that with the studs beneath his heel on the ground. Shame to see such a spectacular try ruled out on such a tight margin. It was good to see Smith finally show why Wilkins has been picking him for so many games this season. He seemed to find his feet at last against Bristol.

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    Mute JoeVlogs
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:48 PM

    Andrew Smith was fantastic – that disallowed try was probably try of the season had it been given. That said, I think Hawkshaw was my man of the match – played like a man possessed on either side of the ball. He has always impressed me when he has played… unfortunately for him that he is competing for spots with Aki, Forde and Farrell, but I’d love to see more of him in the 23 shirt or maybe covering outhalf a bit more. With Hanrahan limping off, we might see him in the side a bit more.

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    Mute Tom Reilly
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:52 PM

    This was not an impressive win by Connacht. Their game management was poor when Bristol went down to 14 players. Then Connacht began to play as if their advantage was in the backs, running lineout ball straight into a 50/50 back scenario defensively speaking. There they had a 12.5% advantage in the pack but refused to engage the Bristol pack.On a positive note, Jack Aungier is turning into a quality TH prop and will soon challenge Tom O’Toole for an Ireland squad place.

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    Mute Owen ODonoghue
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    Jan 19th 2024, 11:43 PM

    @Tom Reilly: agreed he has the potential to unseat Furlong – beast of a player

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    Mute Stuart
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:35 PM

    Joe vloggs ,time to dust off your Lyon jersey. Great performance from the Western province tonight.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:36 PM

    @Stuart: It was a very entertaining game. Pity about that red card but fully justified. Well done Connacht.

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    Mute JoeVlogs
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:43 PM

    @Stuart: I’ll have to see if I can sort one out in a hurry. Worse come to the worst, I’ll just wear my lions jersey instead…right colour, and close enough spelling. Would be the mother of all rescue jobs if we qualified for the knockouts, but fingers and toes crossed!

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    Mute TL55
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    Jan 20th 2024, 12:38 AM

    @Stuart: Good but not great. You have take into account that Bristol lost a player to a red card early on and for 10 minutes were done to 13 players. Connacht played some lovely rugby but Bristol butchered a number of tries. Fingers crossed that Sarries don’t get a losing bonus point or better tomorrow.

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    Mute Aidan Tully
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:49 PM

    My god was it cold at the Dexcom tonight. Words that have never been uttered before.

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    Mute John Doe
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:36 PM

    Firstly, that Bristol performance was one of the worst I’ve ever seen in the Champions Cup. Fair play to Pat Lam for conning Steve Lansdown as long as he has been. Absolutely stealing a living. Secondly, I wonder will Connacht fans ridicule Bernard Jackman for saying that Connacht always get up for Interpros and need to be more consistent outside of that. I said the exact same a number of weeks ago and was laughed at. One or two Connacht supporters take what Bernard says as gospel so it’ll be interesting to hear their take on his comments. Finally, that Connacht jersey is the most god awful thing I’ve ever seen

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    Mute Aidan Tully
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:48 PM

    @John Doe: In fairness at least you didn’t take being laughed at to heart.

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    Mute John Doe
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:50 PM

    @Aidan Tully: why would I? I know I was correct in what I said at the time

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    Mute Paddy Kennedy
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:58 PM

    @John Doe: I’m a season ticket holder for the last 10 years and anyone I’ve ever spoken to about Jackman has said the exact same thing – he has his head up his arse.

    So I really don’t know where you’re getting this “gospel” carry on from

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    Mute Michael Griffin
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    Jan 19th 2024, 11:07 PM

    @John Doe: normal service resumed…. ah well was good while it lasted

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    Mute Fintan O'Halloran
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    Jan 19th 2024, 11:16 PM

    @John Doe: You are the best. Thank you so much for your informed opinion

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    Mute Sea Point
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    Jan 20th 2024, 2:50 AM

    @Fintan O’Halloran: top level sarcasm, chapeau… :-D

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    Mute John Doe
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    Jan 20th 2024, 5:20 AM

    @Paddy Kennedy: hence I said one or two fans take what he said as gospel

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    Mute Jb Walshe
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    Jan 19th 2024, 10:50 PM

    Well done Connaugh. pity it wasn’t on tv,well my tv anyway

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    Mute William Joyce
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    Jan 20th 2024, 12:36 AM

    Connacht were just great! Well done 1-23. Take a bow best performance of the season..! The stamp on Finlay’s head… Just shocking…! Long ban…!!

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    Mute Niall English
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    Jan 20th 2024, 1:17 AM

    @William Joyce: wasn’t even a red. Was unintentional. Scott penny did the exact same to Simon zebo and didn’t even get a penalty.

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    Mute Robert O'Connor
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    Jan 20th 2024, 1:31 AM

    @Niall English: gotta be about Munster….

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    Mute Niall English
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    Jan 20th 2024, 3:14 AM

    @Robert O’Connor: nothing to do with munster, i was just using that as an example of the inconsistency of the refereeing and incorrect application of the laws. even the commentators said it wasnt a card. merely a “rugby collision”. there was no malice or intent in it.

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    Mute Sea Point
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    Jan 20th 2024, 3:20 AM

    @Niall English: give your head a slap, Red every day of the week, and twice on Sundays. Just because you don’t intend to stamp on someone’s face, doesn’t mean, in Rugby, you aren’t responsible for ensuring it doesn’t happen. The lad literally had to run around Bealham on the ground to get back onside to join the ruck, he knew exactly where Bealham was regardless of where his eyes were pointed….

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    Mute Paul Ennis
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    Jan 20th 2024, 3:26 AM

    @Niall English: The stamping action was what turned last nights incident into foul play and subsequently a red card. Whilst it was not intentional, it was reckless and dangerous.

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    Mute Cg
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    Jan 20th 2024, 12:01 AM

    Serious effort put in. Now let’s play like this every week!

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Jan 19th 2024, 11:34 PM

    Far from it. Was at the game. Connacht very good in first half but very poor in 2nd half. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was Bristol who had the extra man and wind 2nd half.

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    Mute Sea Point
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    Jan 20th 2024, 3:15 AM

    @Ray Ridge: Connacht needed the bonus point win only, and got it within six minutes of the restart. Once achieved (and game secure) the urgency went out of the game. At no point was a Bristol resurgence ever on the cards, and Connacht dealt with their attacks well in defence, emphasised by the effort by Prendergast/Hawkshaw tackle on Ravouvou. Penalty try in injury time was the sum of Bristol efforts for fifty minutes…

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