O’Brien on the double as Westerners win in France
MATT HEALY sealed a bonus point win for Connacht after 14-man Perpignan had closed to within a point in the second period at Stade Aime Giral. Two Sean O’Brien tries and a third from Dave Heffernan had Connacht in control at the break, but two tries from Perpignan were followed by the sending-off of Adrea Cocagi and Connacht pulled clear in the closing stages. A couple of early penalties allowed the home side to exert some early pressure and with Paddy Jackson involved in the build-up, full-back Julien Farnoux got their score after seven minutes. Jackson was unfortunate to see his conversion hit the post. There was no missing the out-half’s second kick, a penalty straight in front of the posts when the visitors were caught off-side, which made the lead 8-0. He would eventually be replaced in the second half after a disappointing performance. It was a slow start from Connacht. Sean O’Brien earned his side an early penalty, which Conor Fitzgerald missed. After 20 minutes they got the scored they deserved. David Horwitz kicked his side into the corner from a penalty. O’Brien was the man to get the vital touchdown from a maul. Fitzgerald landed a brilliant conversion from the sideline to put one point between the sides. Perpignan’s discipline continued to be a problem and dissent helped Connacht eat up some yardage. The Westerners looked to the maul again and Heffernan scored their second try as Perpignan’s defence splintered. Fitzgerald’s conversion put Connacht 14-8 ahead, and worse was to come for the home side when winger Tima Fainga’anuku was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge on Kelleher. Despite being a man down, Perpignan attacked and turned down a kickable penalty in search of a try. Connacht held solid. And six minutes from the break Connacht delivered the sucker punch. Robin Copeland’s break and pass found its way to O’Brien who dived over for his second try of the match. Fitzgerald stretched the lead out to 22-8 just before the break when the Perpignan tackler didn’t roll away. With a 14-point lead at the interval it looked positive for Connacht, but Perpignan hit back in the second period. Leiataua crossed for the home side straight away, but Jackson couldn’t convert again, and then Fainga’anuku made amends for his earlier yellow to score in the corner in the 46th minute, which closed the gap to four points. Perpignan were totally dominant at that stage, but they shot themselves in the foot just before the hour when Adrea Cocagi was sent off after a strike on Healy. They still closed the gap to a point when Tom Ecochard landed a penalty in the 59th minute. But Healy sealed the bonus 12 minutes from time before Cian Kelleher struck three minutes later.
PERPIGNAN: J Farnoux (J Bousquet 68); E Sau, A Cocagi, A Taumoepeau, T Fainga’anuku; P Jackson (E Selponi 60), T Ecochard (S Degmache 67); Q Walcker (K Tougne 72), M Leiataua (C Deligny 72), Y Boutemmani (N Lemaire 59); T Labouteley, Y Vivalda; E Shahn (A Brazo 49), P Reynaud (A Brazo h-t-49 HIA) (J Van Heerden 65), K Chateau.
Scorers: Tries: J Farnoux, M Leiataua, T Fainga’anuku. Pens: P Jackson, T Ecochard.
CONNACHT: D Leader; C Kelleher, K Joyce, D Horwitz (K Godwin 68), M Healy; C Fitzgerald (J Carty 60), J Mitchell (C Blade 60); P McCabe (M Burke 68), D Heffernan (T McCartney 57), D Robertson McCoy (C Carey 60); J Cannon, G Thornbury (J Maksymiw 59), S O’Brien (E Masterson 56), J Connolly, R Copeland.
Scorers: Tries: S O’Brien (2), D Heffernan, M Healy, C Kelleher;
Pens: C Fitzgerald. Cons: C Fitzgerald (2), J Carty (2)
Referee: Ian Tempest (Eng).