RUGBY: Connact's experimental XV, with six players making their debuts at senior provincial level, got a thorough work-out from English Premiership side Bristol Shoguns at the Galway Sportsground last night.
Ultimately the concession of three soft tries - two from intercepts - was Connacht's undoing. The three tries Connacht scored were considerably more hard-earned, and the efforts of some disciplined work.
Having kept Bristol at bay despite some concerted pressure, poor Connacht tackling gifted Jamie Williams the first try, while the left winger was again the grateful beneficiary of poor Connacht passing, intercepting from inside his own 22 and making the dash untouched to claim the third try.
Sandwiched between these were two worthy efforts from each side. Connacht's opening try on 15 minutes came from outhalf Shane Moore after good work from hooker Paul Flannery and Paul Neville, while at the other end English under-21 player Duncan Hayward finished off a quickly taken tap penalty.
Connacht turned first-half defending into second-half attack and were rewarded when debutant James Norton found the space out wide to score after 54 minutes, but once again Bristol capitalised when substitute Brendan Daniel's intercept kept the Shoguns in front.
Henry Bourke again closed the gap after 75 minutes, but Williams notched his hat-trick in the dying moments to give Bristol a well-earned victory for their superior attacking skills.
CONNACHT: J Meagher; J Norton, D O'Sullivan, M McPhail, T Robinson; S Moore, C Keane; D McFarland (cpt), J Flannery, F Boiroux, A Maher, R Frost, M Swift, P Neville, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: H Bourke for Flannery (30 mins); C Rigney for Maher (half-time); W Waugh for Swift (55 mins); E Elwood for Moore (60 mins); M Wall for Keane (60 mins); T Allnutt for O'Sullivan (70 mins).
BRISTOL SHOGUNS: J Clarke; M Johnson, D Rees, D Hayward, J Williams; M Carrington, P Richards; T Payne, S Nelson, R Skuse, S Morgan, B Sturnham (capt), C Short, M Salter, R Oakley. Replacements: B Daniel for Johnson (half-time); A Sheridan for Morgan (55 mins); S Drahn for Carrington (73 mins).
