CHALLENGE CUP POOL ONE: Connacht 83 Cavalieri Prato 7: CONNACHT SCORED a record victory to end their disappointing Amlin Challenge Cup campaign on a high note at the Sportsground on Saturday.
Now coach Eric Elwood wants his men to bring their storming finish to their European campaign into the Magners League after this superb victory in which they scored 12 tries.
Elwood said successive wins over Bayonne and Cavalieri had instilled plenty of confidence and he wanted them to continue in this vein for the rest of the season.
“We were in the wrong side of some tight results over the past few months but got it right in Europe,” he said. “It was good to win in France and now finish the pool with a dozen tries.
“We’re at home for six of remaining games in the Magners League and have an awful lot to play for. This performance is a big boost. We have a small break now and will then regroup for the visit of Scarlets in a few weeks, so hopefully the finishing we have shown in the last two games will be repeated. That’s what we need to do,” said Elwood.
Winger Brian Tuohy grabbed a hat-trick as Connacht gained revenge for the opening-round shock defeat in Italy.
Connacht racked up their biggest win in Europe against a side who managed to derail their campaign back in October.
The victory surpasses the 75-8 win over Spanish side Cetransa El Salvador three years ago – and Ian Keatley’s nine conversions broke the record eight held by Elwood.
Connacht led by 43-7 at the break and had a bonus point in the bag by the 26th minute when Mike McCarthy celebrated his call-up to the Ireland squad this week by touching down in front of the watching Declan Kidney.
CONNACHT:G Duffy; F Carr, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, B Tuohy; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M McCarthy, M Swift; A Browne, S Conneely, M McComish. Replacements:A Flavin for Cronin, R Ah You for Hagan, B Upton for McCarthy (all 47 mins); R Ofisa for Conneely (50 mins); M Nikora for Matthews (52 mins); C Willis for Murphy, S Monahan for Tuohy; R Loughney for Wilkinson (all 57 mins).
CAVALIERI PRATO:B Ngawini; W Mafi, C Von Grumbkov, S Rodwell, N Tempestini; A Chiesa, S Canale; L Poloni, L Giovanchelli, G Bocca; L Beccaris, F Cazzola; L Petillo, F Cristano, N Soqueta. Replacements:D Stefani for Bocca, N Belardo for Cristiano, M Murgier for Rodwell, R Wakarua for Tempestini (all 40 mins); A Goti for Poloni (56 mins); A Neri for Giovanchelli (61 mins); L Villagra for Canale, G Marino for Soqueta (both 68 mins).
Referee: L Cardona (France).
