Kerins part of epic comeback by Connacht

CONNACHT GLOUCESTER 27 24

one try from Caolin Blade even though they crossed the line three times; Gloucester ended the half by winning a scrum over their own line and celebrated as if they had scored a try of their own.

With the wind at their backs in the second-half, the visitors didn’t use it as wisely as they wished but they had nudged themselves into a 12-10 lead nonetheless when Mark Atkinson intercepted Kyle Godwin’s pass as the home side attempted an over-ambitious counter.

Connacht, whose ideas in attack were sorely limited, were still huffing and puffing in a forlorn five-pointer search when Jarrod Butler thought it might be wise to remember there was a match to win first. The captain duly instructed Conor Fitzgerald to kick for the posts on the hour and ensure his side could attempt to regroup and concentrate on the primary business of winning the four points.

Instead, for the third successive European encounter, they imploded in the final quarter, Gloucester adding two more tries through Lewis Ludlow and a second from Atkinson as they claimed the bonus point themselves and suddenly seemed to reinvigorate their own flickering hopes.

In 10 crazy minutes, Connacht seemed to toss away their final chance of European salvation. The 6,787 crowd were reduced to silence but, on a madcap afternoon, there was always the potential for another dramatic lurch in the proceedings.

Ludlow played a role too, ensuring his vast stomach prevented Blade from producing quick ruck ball, Romain Poite sending the open-side to the bin. His side’s chances of a win would improbably follow.

Still, even when Delahunt scored with three minutes to go, few might have offered the home side much of a chance given the fitful nature of their play all afternoon.

Just when they needed it though, directly from the restart, they produced their most sustained passage of play and with it their dramatic escape.

“We never give up until the final whistle,” beamed Bundee Aki, who was strong in defence. “That is part of the whole thinking behind Connacht. We won’t let go how bad we played in the first-half, they capitalised when we gave away possession. We’re just happy with the win. They are a class team and defended really well. But we didn’t give up.” Gloucester will throw in the towel on their hopes now after surprising many with a display that seemed at odds with a diffident selection, with even Danny Cipriani adding to the first-team absences by withdrawing with illness in the morning. But for the late yellow card, they might have mustered enough resistance to stem the unlikeliest of comebacks.

Connacht, somehow, continue to roll with the punches, many of them self-inflicted.

SCORERS – Connacht: C Blade, S Delahunt, R Copeland tries, S Fitzgerald 3 con, 2 pen. Gloucester: Tries: Atkinson (2), Ludlow, Grobler tries, Twelvetrees 2 cons. CONNACHT: J Carty; N Adeolokun (T Daly 23), K Godwin, B Aki, J Porch; C Fitzgerald, C Blade (S Kerins 64); P McCabe (D Buckley 42), D Heffernan (S Delahunt 78), D Robertson McCoy (F Bealham 54), U Dillane, J Maksymiw, E McKeon (E Masterson 66), J Butler capt, P Boyle. GLOUCESTER: M Banahan; L Rees-Zammit (F Marais 31-39), B Twelvetrees, M Atkinson (C Harris 76); O Thorley; L Evans, C Braley (J Simpson 73); J Hohneck (A Seville 74), T Gleave (F Marais 66), F Balmain; A Craig (F Mostert 31), G Grobler; F Clarke (B Morgan 64), L Ludlow capt, R Ackermann (A Hinckley 65). REFEREE: R Poite (France).

INSET: Stephen Kerins.