Connacht secure first win over Cardiff in three seasons

Connacht 36 Cardiff 31

Connacht secured a deserved bonus-point win over the Cardiff Blues in a nine-try Pro 12 fixture at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday evening.

Wrapping up the victory with a fifth try in the 63rd minute, it was Connacht’s first win over the Blues in three seasons, and only their third in 24 meetings.

Despite early domination from Connacht, they gifted the Blues an intercept try when attacking inside their opponents’ half when right wing Aled Summerhill read the long pas perfectly to scamper home from 60 metres, with outhalf Rhys Patchell converting.

However with Tiernan O'Halloran exemplary in the air, and the pack making headway the direct route, scrumhalf Kieran Marmion 's sniping break from a ruck opened Connacht's try count, and Carty's conversion had the sides level after 10 minutes.

A delightful grubber kick from the outhalf provided Connacht with a line-out five metres out - Andrew Browne securing possession before the driving maul was finished by Nepia Fox-Matamua with his third try in three games. Carty added the extras before Connacht had added the third try two minutes later, Danie Poolman finishing a sweet backline move for a 19-7 lead.

However elementary mistakes handed Cardiff the initiative, and they capitalised. A driving maul forced Connacht on the back foot, and eventually it returned the try for No 8 Josh Turnbull and Patchell’s conversion closed the gap to 19-14, and when O’Halloran was yellow carded Patchell potted the penalty to close the gap to three points.

Cardiff picked up where they left off after the restart, but desperate defending and a super tackle from Parata, fullback Dan Fish eventually touched down for their third try, Patchell’s conversion giving the Blues a 24-19 lead after 48 minutes.

Connacht, however, regrouped and were rewarded with some patient phase play with O’Halloran superbly touching down Carty’s chip, and the outhalf added the conversion to put Connacht in front again. When replacement Aly Muldowney charged over the line for Connacht’s fifth try, which Carty converted, the hosts were in the driving seat again. The Blues were restricted to two penalty kicks which replacement Gareth Davies missed, while Carty struck a 79th minute penalty to seal their second Pro 12 victory this season. However the Blues bagged a fourth try and losing bonus point when four minutes into injury time prop Sam Hobbs crashed over with Davies converting.