Connacht - 22 Edinburgh Gunners - 22: Connacht snatched a draw in the dying minutes of last evening's joust with the Edinburgh Gunners to maintain their Magners League momentum.
Twice Connacht were forced to come from behind in the final 10 minutes of a disjointed second half in which referee James Jones binned five players. It made this Galway Sportsground fixture something of a lottery, and although Connacht failed to gain the initiative with the Gunners down three players at one stage, Connacht coach Michael Bradley will be happy Mark McHugh's 85th minute penalty from 48 metres ensured a share of the spoils.
"This game was back up there with the displays against the Borders and Ospreys. Two wins and a draw is a great return from four games," Bradley said.
If McHugh once again demonstrated his ability to capitalise with the boot, then Gunners' captain Chris Paterson was similarly a key figure in the first half, scoring all of his side's 16 points, including a 37th minute try.
Paterson benefited from his mobile pack who kept Connacht on the back foot for long periods, particularly at the breakdown where Connacht conceded a host of first-half penalties. The first came within three minutes as Paterson punished the rucking infringement to open the scoring.
However, Connacht hit back almost immediately with the backrow of Colm Rigney and John Muldoon influential in establishing territorial control. From the recycle Mark McHugh found Matt Mostyn at pace, and the right wing did well to keep possession, and race in under the posts. McHugh tapped over the conversion to give Connacht the lead.
The Gunners posed a threat through Simon Webster who showed his pace on several occasions. After scorching three Connacht would-be tacklers, he was finally nailed on the line, setting up position for the Gunners' 34th minute penalty after the hosts were penalised for collapsing the scrum.
Connacht, however, never let the visitors out of sight. McHugh added a penalty before the break to close the gap to 10-16 after a high tackle on John Hearty, while he added another three minutes after the restart to maintain the momentum.
Edinburgh, against the wind, kept the ball in hand and their support play proved difficult for Connacht who were forced to play most of their rugby in their own half.
Although Paterson potted another penalty, Hearty's replacement Darren Yapp and new season signing Ray Ofisa added bite and pace to Connacht in the second half.
SCORING SEQUENCE: Paterson penalty 3-0; Mostyn try, McHugh conversion 7- 3; Paterson penalty 7-6; Paterson penalty 7-9; Paterson try and conversion 7-16; McHugh penalty 10-16. Half-time: 10-16. McHugh penalty 13-16; Paterson penalty 13-19; McHugh penalty 16- 19; McHugh penalty 19-19; Hodge penalty 19- 22; McHugh penalty 22-22.
Yellow cards: Connacht: Gannon, Lacey, Edinburgh: Turnbull, Rennie, Murray.
CONNACHT: D Riordan; M Mostyn, J Hearty, G Williams, K Matthews; M McHugh, C Keane; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty (cpt), B Sturgess, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: M Diffley for Sturgess 33m, D Yapp for Hearty ht, R Ofisa for Rigney 58m, T Tierney for Keane 66m.
EDINBURGH: H Southwell; C Paterson (cpt), B Cairns, R Dewey, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, A Dinkinson, M Mustchin, S Murray, A Strokosch, R Rennie, A Hogg. Replacements: S Turnbull for Mustchin 20m, Di Rollo for Southwell 50m,D Hodge for Godman (67m).
Referee: J Jones (Wales).
