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'Gut-wrenching' finish cruel on Elwood's Connacht

Scarlets 35 Connacht 33: ERIC ELWOOD’S exploits as a player are well documented in Wales, and for a spell on Saturday his perceived…

Mon Sept 13 2010 - 01:00

Scarlets 35 Connacht 33:ERIC ELWOOD'S exploits as a player are well documented in Wales, and for a spell on Saturday his perceived hex on Welsh rugby appeared set to continue.

Three points up, Connacht looked to have done just enough for Elwood to claim his second Welsh scalp since taking over the province and their first in two-and-a-half seasons away from home. But having kept the chasing Scarlets at bay for seven minutes after full time had elapsed Scottish international Sean Lamont swept over the line to give the Welsh outfit their first victory of this campaign and a bonus point.

It was game lost for Connacht but another goal achieved. Once upon a time Connacht may not have turned down a first losing bonus point away from home in two seasons, but on Sunday it hurt.

“To lose a game with that amount of effort and endeavour seven minutes into injury time, it’s gut-wrenching,” said Elwood.

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“We are trying to change the mentality of Connacht and we want to get respect – that we are not just seen as being good at home where it’s windy and raining, but to be competitive away,” said Elwood.

Of more concern to Elwood will be how his side failed to play smart enough in the frantic, extended, final eight minutes and suffered another two sinbinnings in their second match in each half. Both proved costly.

Connacht scored three tries – all from left wing Fionn Carr – and took a 33-30 lead on 75 minutes.

Ian Keatley had posted two early penalties before the home side replied with a penalty from Stephen Jones, and within a minute lock Johnny Fa’amatuainui made the initial break with Regan King supplying Davis for the opening try on 24 minutes.

Connacht responded with one of the best tries of the day. Created from the restart which fullback Gavin Duffy caught, Connacht kept the ball in hand with Jamie Hagan and Keatley making further gains. Some quick hands from number eight Mike McComish and Keith Matthews supplied Carr who raced in from 10 metres.

Frank Murphy’s yellow for a crude tackle on Andy Fenby led to King’s 43rd-minute try to give them a 20-13 half-time lead.

But Carr scored the perfect opportunist try when poaching possession and racing in from 60 metres to level matters agin.

Although Connacht edged ahead when Carr danced through the cover after Troy Nathan broke through from a superb Willis pass, they could not shake off the home side which, capitalising on Loughney’s transgression at ruck time, added their third through Davies.

Connacht looked to have wrapped up the points when Keatley struck a 40-metre kick for a 33-30 lead, but the Scarlets snatched it at the death.

SCARLETS: A Fenby; G North, R King, J Davies, S Lamont; S Jones, M Roberts (T Knoyle 57); P John (I Thomas 57), M Rees (K Owens 76), R Thomas (P Edwards 76); L Reed, J Fa'amatuainu (D Day 80); J Turnbull, J Edwards, R McCusker .

CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso (M Nikora 61), K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy (C Willis 57); B Wilkinson (R Loughney 61), S Cronin (A Flavin 80), J Hagan; M Swift, B Upton; M McCarthy, R Ofisa, M McComish.

Referee: N Paterson(Scotland).