Celtic League/ Connacht 15 Dragons 10: For the first time in two seasons Connacht have notched successive Celtic League wins - a timely reminder that after a tame exit from the European Challenge Cup, they are still competing for a Heineken Cup place.
At the Showgrounds on Saturday, against a team that beat Munster the previous week, Connacht had done their homework. They played to the conditions, overcame the visitors' strengths up front, and defended cleverly and aggressively to extend their home run to five on the trot.
Thus they closed on their two nearest rivals, Glasgow Warriors, who lost to Ulster, and the Dragons.
It was certainly not the most attractive game, but Michael Bradley stressed its importance in putting behind them the loss to Newcastle.
"The lads were hugely disappointed two weeks ago and to a degree they have put the record straight with a good strong performance," said the coach.
"We have four matches left in the league, three of which are at home, and there is a European Cup spot at the end of it. If we keep the momentum going, it is attainable."
Connacht's new-look back line, with Mark McHugh at outhalf and Paul Warwick at fullback, started creatively against the wind, but struggled to find fluidity in the face of the Dragons' rush defence.
The powerful Dragons pack might have expected to dominate here but it was Connacht who fronted up, for while the Dragons may have edged the set piece honours, Connacht won the battle at the breakdown.
Significantly Connacht reached the break just four points down.
"The wind was strong and with only a couple of points in it and playing at home we were reasonably confident at the break," said Bradley.
Mark McHugh returned to outhalf for the first time in three seasons and relished the role, finding the necessary touch, and kicking all 15 of Connacht's points, including two first-half penalties. He also dovetailed well with Paul Warwick at fullback, which gave Connacht extra options behind the scrum.
The Dragons,with their 10 internationals, looked uncomfortable for long periods, but took advantage of spilled ball to set up an attack from which they scored the only try. When lock Ian Gough ankle-tapped Paul Warwick's attempted clearance, fullback Aled Thomas sent Luke Charteris in for a 14th-minute try, which outhalf Craig Warlow converted.
McHugh's trusty boot pegged them back, however, and though two missed drop goals and an unsuccessful 60th-minute penalty made for a tense final 20 minutes, Connacht never relinquished control.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 8 mins: McHugh pen 3-0; 14: Charteris try, Warlow con 3-7; 27: McHugh pen 6-7; 32: Warlow pen 6-10 (half-time 6-10); 44: McHugh pen 9-10; 48: McHugh pen 12-10; 89: McHugh pen 15-10.
CONNACHT: P Warwick; M Mostyn, A Mailei, G Williams, D Yapp; M McHugh, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop; C Short, D Gannon; M Swift, J Muldoon, C Rigney. Replacements: A Clarke for Hogan (57 mins), C McPhillips for Mailei (64 mins), D Slemen for Yapp (77 mins), T Tierney for Keane (86 mins).
DRAGONS: A Thomas; G Wyatt, J Bryant, C Sweeney, N Breu; C Warlow, C Baber; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas; I Gough, L Charteris; J Ringer, M Owen, J Forster. Replacements: B Breeze for A Thomas (h-t), R Sidoli for Charteris, D Maddocks for Black (both 66 mins), J Ireland for Baber, A Brown for S Jones (both 71 mins),
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland).
