Edinburgh 49 Connacht 31:Connacht secured a bonus point in defeat at Murrayfield last night with a four-try effort, but it was not enough to prevent Edinburgh from taking victory in this crucial match for the Irish province.
In a match played at a furious pace but in one lacking accuracy from both sides, Connacht paid dearly for lapses in defence and moreover their tendency to stand off the tackle when swifter engagement would have killed off incipient attacks from Edinburgh.
Connacht were also guilty of poor stewardship of the ball, with their turnover count much too high for a professional side. In the event, it allowed Edinburgh to attack Connacht in favourable situations that led to a six-try haul for the Scottish side.
It was Connacht, however, who struck first, exploiting turnover ball with superb midfield handling from Mark McHugh and Gavin Williams that sent speedster Conor McPhillips racing in at the left corner. Paul Warwick converted.
Edinburgh replied quickly by launching an attack that gave a glimpse of their handling game. The move came to nothing, but two minutes later Edinburgh again produced their trademark handling with backs and forwards all involved in a lethal wave that ended with international centre Rob Dewey running in under the posts, leaving Duncan Hodge with an easy conversion.
Connacht were under pressure again with a charge down of Warwick's attempted clearance and were fortunate to get away with a drop out.
But after Simon Webster was hauled down a metre short of the line, Connacht put a bullet in their foot with an overthrow at the ensuing line that gave Alasdair Strokosch an easy try, coolly converted by Hodge.
A Warwick penalty pulled Connacht back into the game, but any hopes of closing the gap went out the window as Edinburgh struck again with a second try by Dewey from good approach work by Hodge and Webster.
Hodge converted, but almost immediately Edinburgh gave away a score after turning over ball, allowing Warwick to make the running for a second try by McPhillips. Warwick's conversion narrowed Edinburgh's lead to three points.
But a minute before half-time Hodge gave Edinburgh a 24-17 advantage, increased just two minutes into the second half with a try by scrumhalf John Senio after the Connacht backrow had seemingly gone for a coffee break.
Hodge again converted, and he added further points with a penalty after Dan Riordan was yellow-carded as Edinburgh drove to the Connacht line.
The lead was extended with a try by Webster, the Scotland wing turning a poor kick to touch by Mark McHugh into a solo score, again converted by Hodge.
Connacht, however, hit back with a try by Riordan carved out by Conor O'Loughlin and converted by Warwick.
But Edinburgh sealed the game with a second Webster try and a penalty by replacement Phil Godman.
Connacht got their bonus point from a try by lock David Gannon, converted by Warwick.
SCORERS - Edinburgh: Tries Dewey (2), Strokosch, Webster (2), Senio. Cons Hodge (5). Pens Hodge (2), Godman. Connacht: Tries McPhillips (2), Riordan, Gannon. Cons Warwick (4). Pens Warwick.
EDINBURGH: A Easson; M Dey, B Cairns, R Dewey, S Webster; D Hodge, J Senio; A Jacobsen, S Lawrie, G Cross, M Mustchin, S Murray, A Strokosch, R Rennie, A Hogg. Replacements used: A Kelly, D Young, C Bentley, A MacDonald, G Laidlaw, P Godman, L Lopez-Fleming.
CONNACHT: D Riordan; J Hearty, G Williams, M McHugh (D Slemen 56 mins), C McPhillips; P Warwick, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty (A Flavin 66 mins), S Knoop, D Gannon, A Farley (M Swift 29 mins), M Lacey, R Ofisa, C Rigney (B O'Connor 58 mins). Replacements: A Flavin, M Swift, B O'Connor, P Durcan, D Slemen.
Referee: N Ballard (Wales)
Newport Gwent Dragons scored seven tries as they strolled to their eighth home victory of the season against bottom side Border Reivers at Rodney Parade. The Borders only managed to get close to scoring once when, early on, they had an attacking lineout within metres of the home line.
