RUGBY: Passion and entertainment were more evident than the footballing flair for much of this Celtic League opener in Scotland, but in the end it was Connacht who prevailed with a magificent 40-metre drop goal from Mark McHugh.
Four minutes into injury time, McHugh, who had moved from full back to outhalf after Eric Elwood's substution, sent over an unexpected long-range kick to secure a hard-fought victory in this Pool B clash.
Until then, new entrants The Borders looked to have prevailed as they overturned a half-time deficit of 6-19 to twice take the lead in the second half.
The Borders centre, Kevin Utterson, who had missed three penalties and a conversion, landed a 77th minute penalty that looked to be the winner, and then he had another chance six minutes into injury time, but luckily for Connacht his effort was well wide.
Connacht will be happy to take these points, but not necessarily for allowing a significant half-time lead to be eaten up by two second-half tries from Scottish winger Cammie Murray when The Borders stepped up a gear and their impressive three-quarers came into their own. It also came at a time when prop Ronan McCormack was sinbinned; Johnny O'Connor was replaced through injury, and subsequent switches up front upset the Connacht rythym..
However Connacht's gritty defence lived up to expectations as they forced the Borders to concede two second-half penalties that kept their noses in front till the dramatic last 10 minutes.
Connacht had spent a significant amount of time and territory devoted to defending in the first half, but they settled in the final 10 minutes, capitalising on the breakdown.
That they fashioned more scoring chances than their counterparts, albeit on the counter attack, was testament to their growing confidence. The difference came down to Elwood's kicking - a 100 per cent first-half record as he notched four penalities and a conversion - while substitute Dan McFarland - only on the field a few minutes after Peter Bracken was sinbinned, finished off an unorthodox try after 43 minutes.
Once again it came from a counter-attacking move as the quick-thinking Wayne Munn, Tim Allnutt and Elwood provided the numbers against a stretched Borders defence before McFarland claimed the only try of the first half.
Scoring sequence: 1 min: Elwood penalty 0-3; 13 mins: Elwood penalty 0-6; 17 mins: Elwood penalty 0-9; 19 mins: Utterson penalty 3-9; 22 mins: Elwood penalty 3-12; 26 mins: Utterson penalty 6-12; 43 mins: McFarland try, Elwood conversion 6-19; half-time 6-19; 43 mins: Utterson penalty 9-19; 45 mins: Murray try 14-19; 54 mins: Murray try 21-19; 60 mins: McHugh penalty 21-22; 62 mins: McHugh penalty 21-25; 65 mins: Utterson penalty 24-25; 77 mins: Utterson penalty 27-25; 83 mins: McHugh drop goal 27-28.
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, J O'Connor, E Peters. Replacements: J O Sullivan for O'Connor (h/t), D McFarland for McCormack (60 mins), D O'Sullivan for Elwood (51 mins), C Keane for Reddan (65 mins).
SCOTTISH BORDERS: T Vili; N Walker, S Cranston, K Utterson, C Murray; G Townsend, G Armstrong (capt); P Thomson, S Scott, B Douglas, S McLeod, R Metcalfe, A Rennick, C Feather, S Sitti. Replacements: C Dunlea for Rennick (37 mins), M Ryalor for Rennic (68 mins), C Stuart for Vili (62 mins).
Yellow cards: Connacht: Bracken (37mins), McCormack (43mins); Borders: Thomson (37m).
Referee: N Owen (WRFU)
In the big clash of Welsh clubs at Rodney Parade last night, Wales centre Dafydd James led Bridgend to an upset 13-5 win against Newport.
