Borders 15 Connacht 29: Connacht's record of winning their opening match every year since the Celtic League began in 2001 was extended in some style at Netherdale last night.
The hard-working Connacht pack wore down Borders' all-Scottish international pack, and then the showboating was provided in the closing stages by Paul Warwick.
Connacht, having taking a pummelling up front in the opening 10 minutes, were hanging on to a 19-15 lead in the closing stages when Warwick took matters into his own hands. Playing at outside centre, Warwick landed a drop-goal with his weaker left-foot from 25 metres to put some daylight between the sides.
And in stoppage time he chased his own kick from halfway to dive in beside the posts and seal a win which gives Michael Bradley's men an opportunity to build early momentum given their next six games are at home.
Borders, back in the European Cup for the second time, had been busy on the transfer front during the close season and started with 12 internationals.
Initially that class told as the home side dominated possession. But Connacht are well used to having to defend stoutly against vaunted opposition and a quarter hour of possession yielded just two penalties from fullback Calum McRae.
However the Connacht pack, led superbly by lock Andrew Farley and with Ireland A scrum-half Chris Keane busy, battled back and they took control with Mark McHugh landing two penalties to tie the match after the half hour. McRae gave Borders an interval lead, but Connacht got a glorious start to the second half.
Conor McPhillips set the move in motion with an excellent grubber which forced Gary Law to concede touch 10 metres out. Farley won the lineout and after Connacht drove to within a metre, Keane and McHugh combined to send Gavin Williams - son of All-Black legend Brian - in for his first try for Connacht since joining last year.
McHugh added the points to make it 13-9 for Connacht before McRae and McHugh exchanged penalties towards the end of the third quarter. Another McRae penalty reduced the deficit to 16-15 with 15 minutes left, but Connacht dominated from there.
McHugh, captain for the night, landed his fourth penalty after 68 minutes before Warwick went showboating. Afterwards, Bradley said: "We had to work hard for the win. They put us under a lot of pressure early on but we maintained our composure".
Scorers: Border Reivers: Pens: McRae (5) Connacht: Tries: Williams, Warwick Cons: McHugh (2) Pens: McHugh (4) Drop goal: Warwick.
Border Reivers: C MacRae; S Danielli, B MacDougall, G Law, N de Luca; G Townsend, C Cusiter; G Kerr, R Ford, B Douglas; C Hamilton, S Grimes; K Brown, S Gray, R Beattie. Replacements: O Palepoi for Hamilton (47 mins); A Miller for Gray (47 mins); E Kalmen for Kerr (49 mins); S Scott for Ford (62 mins); S Jones for Townsend (68 mins); J Dalziel for Beattie (70 mins).
Connacht: M Mostyn; D Yapp, P Warwick, G Williams, C McPhillips; M McHugh, C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacement: J Fogarty for Flavin (67 mins).
Referee: T Hayes (Wales).
