Brive have no answer to Healy’s brilliant four-timer

INSPIRED Matt Healy ran in four tries to help Connacht maintain their unbeaten start in Europe and take control of Pool 5.

Healy scored a stunner early on before adding three after the break in a clinical performance that saw him become the first Connacht player to score four tries in a game.

Jack Carty also shone for Connacht with nine kicks from nine as well as his brilliant first-half try, while Kieran Marmion and Tom Farrell also scored.

Connacht head coach Kieran Keane said: “Like the last time we came to this competition we’ve been able to gather some momentum.

“We ran away with it in the end with some sublime football. It was great for the boys, but at half-time it was in the balance.”

Healy’s first arrived after five minutes when he somehow caught the ball one handed, danced along the sideline and ran in behind the posts for a brilliant try.

Gaetan Germain pulled Brive back with a converted try, but, once Shane Delahunt’s well timed pass sent Carty through, Connacht would not be caught

An early Carty penalty added to Connacht’s 17-10 half-time lead before a first phase lineout move saw Healy score again.

Mike Tadjer was sin binned for a high tackle 12 minutes into the half, and in his absence Healy ran on to Pita Ahki’s chip through to complete his hat-trick, before Marmion, Healy and Farrell went over.