Farrell’s double downs Cheetahs

Connacht ........ 24 Cheetahs ........ 22

WINGER Niyi Adeolokun said their decision to go for the scrum which netted the match-winner showed the level of self-belief which Andy Friend has instilled in the Connacht squad.

Three points down, they opted for a scrum with a penalty in front of the posts in the final play and it paid off as replacement centre Tom Farrell got over for his second try of the night to snatch a dramatic winner.

Adeolokun said: “That is the belief we have. We just wanted to keep driving. It was absolutely amazing to get over the line with the final play.”

Farrell’s try also secured the bonus point. Connacht led 14-5 at the break thanks to tries from Adeolokun and Kieran Marmion.

Adeolokun got through for his first try in the competition in over a year thanks to a fine break from Conor Fitzgerald after 14 minutes. Cheetahs responded with a good try from hooker Joseph Dweba in a rare opening half attack.

Adeolokun then turned creator for scrum-half Marmion, making his first

start after his surprise World Cup omission, to finish in style.

But the Cheetahs, who picked up 15 league points from their opening three games, hit back after the restart with tries from Rhyno Smith and Clayton Blommetjies to take the lead before they lost centre Dries Swanepoel to a red card for a hit to the head of Caolin Blade.

Connacht made them pay with Farrell getting his first try after they went to the corner with the penalty and before he powered over to snatch all the points for Friend’s men and end Cheetahs’ perfect start to the season.