It was the ultimate irony that a former Irish A scrum-half, Ebbw Vale's Guy Easterby, turned this opening European Shield game on its head in favour of the home side.
With Connacht losing their first three scrum-halfs through injury and ineligibility, they still maintained a half-time lead until Easterby inflicted the killer blow after 54 minutes. From then on the home side never looked back with the hard-running Tongan international Siua Taumalolo, normally a full back but last night playing at centre, inflicting the most damage as Connacht succumbed in an error ridden second half.
The game had been Connacht's for the taking with the pack, although a little shaky in the scrums, providing Connacht's out-half Eric Elwood with three successful penalty kicks. The two out-halves had traded penalties until Elwood just edged Connacht ahead at the half-time whistle.
It proved an insufficient lead however as the home side took advantage of the wind in the second half and capitalised on too many Connacht handling errors.
Taumalolo was at the centre of both of Ebbw Vale's tries, making incisive breaks from inside his own half. As the second half progressed, the game ebbed away from Connacht, despite some superb tackling - particularly from newly returned flanker Ian Dillon.
Ebbw Vale's out-half Shaun Connor extended the home side's lead with four penalties. However, it was the Tongan international who punished Connacht's inability to retain possession when he set off from inside his own half and it needed only a single pass to supporting full back Jonathan Williams to score Ebbw Vale's second try on the stroke of full time.
Connacht, despite a fine first 40 minutes, never looked like scoring a try and the much needed confidence boost will have to wait for another day.
Canadian World Cup captain Gareth Rees kicked a last-minute drop goal to complete an amazing Harlequins fight-back as they snatched a 32-32 draw in their Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff at the Arms Park last night.
Full back Rees booted 18 second-half points to rescue Quins after they had trailed 16-0 10 minutes before the break.
Scoring sequence: 22 mins: Connor pen, 30; 24: Elwood pen, 3-3; 27: Connor pen 6-3; 35: Elwood pen, 6-6; 44: Elwood pen, 6-9; 54: Easterby try, Connor cons, 13-9; 57: Connor pen, 16-9; 62: Connor pen, 19-9; 69: Connor pen, 22-9; 78: Connor pen, 25-9; 80: Williams try, Connor conv 32-9.
EBBW VALE: J Williams; S John, S Taumalolo, J Hawker, J Harrison; S Connor, G Easterby; I Thomas, A Peacock, A Metcalf, C Billen, K Faletau, G Green, P Williams, M Jones. Replacements: A Phillips for Thomas and L Phillips for Peacock, and N Budgett for Faletau (all 62 mins).
CONNACHT: S Allnutt; P Duignan, M Mostyn, M Deane, N Carolan; E Elwood, D Mescal; J Maher, S McDonald, M Cahill, G Webster, M McConnell, J Charlie, I Dillon, B Gavin. Replacements: B Jackman for McDonald (six mins - injured); J Ferris for Mescal (35 mins); U O'Callaghan for B Gavin and M Murphy for Duignan (half-time).
