For the second time in a week, Connacht survived a second-half onslaught to snatch victory in the Celtic League when they hosted Welsh side Cardiff at the Galway Sportsground last evening.
Beaten by Connacht in last year's opener, Cardiff seemed secure in exacting retribution when they cruised into a 16-22 lead with a hat-trick of tries in 10 minutes of the second half, overturning Connacht's 16-0 lead.
Yet, once again, Connacht reaped the rewards for keeping their heads as Eric Elwood led a recharged Connacht in the final 10 minutes.
In their first foray into the Cardiff 22 in the second half, they were rewarded with a try from hooker Marnus Uijs.
Opting for a penalty-kick to touch, Connacht's rolling maul forced Cardiff on the back foot, and, from a second penalty, after Warwick Waugh's line-out catch, Uijs came up trumps.
Elwood's conversion put Connacht back into a slender lead by 23-22 after 66 minutes.
The home side, with the benefit of the strong wind in the first half, were first out of the blocks with a try after three minutes - Tim Allnutt took the ball at pace and flanker Paul Neville dived through from the ruck.
Elwood delivered the conversion and two penalties to give Connacht a 13-0 lead after 24 minutes.
Connacht appeared to have the measure of the Cardiff front five, and Elwood was able to take advantage to establish territorial advantage. He struck a huge penalty from just inside half to establish a 16-0 lead.
After the restart, Cardiff were not long in eating into and passing out that lead. Connacht, however, were in no mood to surrender.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: Neville try, Elwood conversion 7-0. 11: Elwood penalty 11-0. 24: Elwood penalty 13-0. 34: Elwood penalty 16-0. Half-time: 16-0. 42: Robinson try and conversion 16-7. 46: Morgan try, Robinson conversion 16-14. 49: Morgan try 16-19. 62: Robinson penalty 16-22. 66: Uijs try, Elwood conversion 23-22.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, M Uijs, P Bracken; W Waugh, R Frost; M Swift, P Neville, E Peters. Replacements: D McFarland for McCormack, C Rigney for Peters, J O'Sullivan for Swift (all 58 mins); C Keane for Reddan (59).
CARDIFF: Williams; N Walne, J Robinson, M Allen, C Morgan; N Robinson, R Smith; P Rogers, A Lewis, K Fourie, A Jones, J Tait, R Appleyard, M Williams (capt) C, J Brownrigg. Replacements: G Woods for Lewis (half-time); G Powell for Rogers (56 mins); D Baugh for Appleyard (56); C Stamatakis for Brownrigg (60).
Referee: J Hogg (Scotland).
