BACK CONN TRACK
Return of Aki and accuracy of Carty hand Westerners a great win
Connacht 33 Scarlets 20
NIYI ADEOLOKUN’S late try put the seal on Connacht’s rousing win over Scarlets at The Sportsground yesterday.
Ireland centre Bundee Aki, on his return to club action, and 18-point out-half Jack Carty starred for the home side.
The Westerners held the edge at the end of a very entertaining first half, leading 20-13 thanks to Tom Farrell and Cian Kelleher tries and Carty’s accuracy with the boot.
Johnny Mcnicholl added a try to Leigh Halfpenny’s two penalties for the visitors. Following a scrappy third quarter, the excellent Carty knocked over two penalties, and although Tom Prydie’s seven-pointer put last season’s runners-up back in the hunt, Adeolokun’s effort from a Caolin Blade turnover earned Connacht’s first victory in four meetings with the Llanelli side.
Man-of-the-match Aki was in barnstorming form right from the off, gaining big yards on his first home start of the season.
Connacht hit the front in the fourth minute when his sidestep and powerful hand-off unlocked the defence and sent his centre partner Farrell in under the posts.
Kelleher burst on to Matt Healy’s short pass to finish crisply in the 25th minute but just three minutes later the visitors caught Connacht for numbers on the left and Mcnicholl threw a dummy to score.
In the second half winger Prydie grabbed a try from Hadleigh Parkes’ assist and Rhys Patchell converted to leave it delicately poised at 26-20.
But Blade pinched a ruck ball to eventually let Adeolokun claim the clinching try.