CONNACHT...3 CELTIC WARRIORS...20: Celtic Warriors ensured their former international outhalf Neil Jenkins concluded his illustrious rugby career on a winning note at the Galway Sportsground last evening.
With nothing at stake for both sides - the Warriors already having qualified for Heineken Cup rugby next season - it was a tame conclusion to this year's Celtic League with the Warriors posting two quick tries in the second half.
It was not the most auspicious occasion for Jenkins to finish his career, but Connacht were more guilty of contributing to a lacklustre match. By the time Jenkins made his appearance after 60 minutes, replacing outhalf Ceri Sweeney, the Warriors had built up a comfortable 20-3 lead.
Jenkins's former international rival Eric Elwood, starting his 149th game for the province, opened the scoring after 13 minutes when prop Chris Horsman was penalised in the ruck. It took until the 32nd minute for the Warriors to respond when outhalf Sweeney potted a simple effort from inside the 22.
The visitors finished the half with a little more momentum, and but for Connacht's Darren Yapp's tackle, left wing Aisea Havili looked to have found the gap to score. Instead Sweeney added a 42nd-minute effort to edge them in front by 6-3 at the break.
Warriors wrested the initiative after 51 minutes when left wing Havili took advantage of an overlap to race over for the first try. Two minutes later Jonathan Bryant created the opening for Sonny Parker to claim the second, Sweeney converting both.
It was a sufficient lead against a weary Connacht outfit whose performance hardly reflected their best ever season.
Scoring sequence: 13 min: E Elwood penalty 3-0; 33: C Sweeney penalty 3-3; 42: C Sweeney penalty 3-6; Half-time: 3-6; 51: Havili try, Sweeney conversion 3-13; 53: Parker try, Sweeney conversion 3-20.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), C McPhllips; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley, M Swift, P Neville, M Carroll. Replacements: S Moore for Allnutt (43 mins), M McCarthy for M Carroll (48 mins), A Clarke for Bracken, D Browne for Short (55 mins); M Walls for O'Loughlin (64 mins), J Fogarty for Jackman (70 mins).
CELTIC WARRIORS: E Lewis; G Thomas, S Parker, J Bryant, A Havili; C Sweeney, S Martens; G Jenkins, M Rees, C Horsman, B Cockbain, D Jones, R Jones, R Parks, R Bryan. Replacements: M Davies for Rees, N Jenkins for Sweeney, N Budgett for D Jones, P John for Martens (all 60 mins), M Molitika for Cockbain (64 mins), M Nuthall for Parker (70 mins).
Yellow cards: D McFarland and C Horsman (32 mins).
Referee: M Changleng (Scotland).
