Narbonne - 42 Connacht - 27:EUROPEAN CUP: Difficult, but do-able? Connacht's 15-point deficit to Narbonne on Saturday evening has left them with a bigger battle than perhaps anticipated as they host the French side in Corinthian Park in Sunday's home leg.
"A massive task, but I believe it's do-able," said coach Steph Nel, obviously disappointed that 10 months earlier Connacht had finished level on aggregate at the same venue, only to exit the same Parker Pen Challenge Cup competition by virtue of Narbonne's superior try count.
Connacht kicked a last long-range penalty to touch in the hopes of mauling to the line and reducing the deficit to a manageable one point. However they contrived to lose the line-out and Narbonne finished at the other end with their fifth try. It was a bitter blow, particularly when Connacht had twice fought back to within striking distance in the second half.
But another killer blow was the concession of two soft tries in five minutes just before the break.
Until them Connacht had competed up front, secured first phase ball through solid set pieces and answered Narbonne's opening try from fullback Pascal Bazani with one of their own. The Narbonne scouts, who had been impressed with John O'Sullivan's performance against Leinster, were talking of opening their cheque book to the province's find of the season, while Peter Bracken, Jerry Flannery, and Damien Browne and Rowan Frost ensured Narbonne did not have it all their own way for long periods.
Having missed two early penalty attempts, Connacht answered Narbonne's opening try with one from Mark McHugh after winning the chase from Shane Moore's clever chip, and Elwood's conversion and 18th minute penalty, gave the visitors a 10-8 lead.
Connacht were unable to build on this and the French side's superiority in the counter-attack manifested itself in two tries - both from Connacht mistakes inside their own half. Bazani and left wing Gregory Tutard were the grateful recipients, giving Narbonne a 22-10 half -time cushion which they extended to 15 points with a Jerome Gendre penalty soon after the restart.
Connacht's patience in recycling was rewarded when Wayne Munn broke through a scattered defence from a skip pass, reducing the arrears to 25-17. However Narbonne pegged that back with a three-pointer, and when Connacht failed to find touch from a penalty, Bazani struck for his third try putting Connacht back on the hind foot again.
Connacht's riposte came from yet another patient build up in which O'Sullivan was again instrumental and Munn once again took the long pass and the tacklers to claim his second. Elwood's conversion and a 73rd minute penalty closed the gap to just eight.
NARBONNE: P Bazani; F Lartigue, D Douy, J Gillingham, G Tutard; J Gendre, L Balue, A Martinez, M Ledesma, S Guy, C Gaston, D Hunter, G Belzons, A Hill, L Baluc Rittener. Replacements: S Hunt for Gillingham (41 mins), C Rosalen for Lartique (50 mins), G Longo for C Gaston (52 mins), X Guilllemet for Hill (54 mins), M Siro for Guy 74 mins).
CONNACHT: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, S Moore, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, J Flannery, P Bracken , R Frost, D Browne, M Swift, J O'Sullivan, E Peters. Replacements: C Rigney for Swift (60 mins), T Robinson for Duffy, J O'Connor for Peters (62 mins), F Boiroux for Bracken (81 mins).
Referee: G Ashton-Jones (England).
Scoring sequence: 5 mins - Bazani try 5-0; 18 mins - Elwood penalty 5-3; 20 mins - Gendre penalty 8-3; 21 mins - McHugh try, Elwood conversion 8-10; 36 mins - Bazani try, Gendre con 15-10; 41 mins - Tutuard try, Gendre con 22-10. half time 22-10. 43 mins - Gendre penalty 25-10; 48 mins - Munn try, Elwood con 25-17; 53 mins - Gendre penalty 28-17; 58 mins - Bazani try, Gendre con 35-17; 65 mins - Munn try, Elwood con 35-24; 73 mins - Elwood penalty 35-27; 85 mins - Guillemet try, Gendre con 42-27.
