Dragons 14 Connacht 3:Connacht failed to post back-to-back Pro12 wins when they were outmuscled by the Dragons at Rodney Parade last evening. The home outfit, without a win in seven games, capitalised on a raft of penalties and scored the game's only try. Connacht had looked the superior outfit in the opening 20 minutes, but two first-half sin binnings turned the game.
Connacht took a 3-0 lead after Dan Parks potted a fourth-minute penalty and they should have added to that score but Tiernan O’Halloran’s crucial pass went astray with an overlap out wide.
Dragons’ only threats came via two penalties when Connacht failed to release, but on the third occasion hooker Jason Harris-Wright was sent to the bin and Dragons’ fullback Tom Prydie kicked the 35-metre penalty to level after 27 minutes.
Connacht blindside Andrew Browne followed for an alleged stamp cited by the touch judge. Prydie was well wide with the penalty, but the loss of two players took its toll and centre Patrick Leach crossed in the corner to secure an 8-3 half-time lead.
The lopsided penalty count continued in the second half and Connacht struggled to make headway. Dragons eased clear as Prydie kicked further penalties after 46 and 52 minutes.
Connacht created chances after Dragons captain Lewis Evans was yellow-carded in the 68th minute, but they could not capitalise.
O’Halloran did his best to grab a consolation try to bring Connacht within a bonus point but the home side managed to defy the pressure in the final five minutes.
DRAGONS: T Prydie, W Harries, P Leach, A Smith, T Chavhanga, D Evans, W Evans, P Price, H Gustafson, D Way, A Jones, R Sidolo, L Evans (capt), N Cudd, T Brown. Replacements: J Dixon for Smyth (ht), N Buck for Way (55 mins), S Jones for Gustafson, J Evans for W Evans (both 58 mins),I Nimmo for Sidoli (75 mins), I Jones for Evans (78 mins), O Evans for Price (79 mins). Yellow cards: Lewis Egans.
CONNACHT: R Henshaw, T O’Halloran, D Poolman, D McSharry, G Duffy (capt), D Parks, K Marmion, D Buckley, J Harris-Wright, N White, M Swift, M Kearney, A Browne, W Faloon, E McKeon. Replacements: R Ah You for Buckley (65 mins), R Loughney for White (66 mins), D Moore for Marmion (75 mins). Yellow cards: Jason Harris-Wright, Andrew Browne. Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy).
