Masterson leads from the front

CONNACHT made it two wins from two with an uninspiring 15-8 victory over Worcester, who suffered their ninth away defeat in a row in the Challenge Cup.

Captain Eoghan Masterson’s early try and a Jack Carty penalty gave the home side an 80 lead at half-time at the Sportsground and although a try from Josh Adams reduced the deficit, Matt Healy’s score made sure of the win.

A late penalty from Australian Jono Lance, who was making his first start for the club, secured a bonus point for the Warriors.

Masterson was captaining Connacht for the first time and he led from the front with a man of the match display, although the hosts lost his fellow back row James Connolly to injury in the opening minutes.

Worcester chose to play into a strong breeze in the first half and it backfired as Masterson crashed over for the opening try on five minutes after a fine backline move saw Darragh Leader stopped just short. Carty missed the extras.

Connacht were unable to take further advantage of the conditions despite being camped in the Warriors’ half for most of the opening 40 minutes. A Carty penalty was the only other score while another injury saw Eoin Griffin replaced by Craig Ronaldson.

More injuries followed after the break, Dominic Robertson-McCoy and Quinn Roux exiting and Worcester got within three after Adams’ unconverted try on 52 minutes.

Yet on the hour Connacht got the game’s crucial score, Carty chipping through and Healy pouncing on the

ball for his 15th try in Europe.

Carty made the conversion and though Worcester battled hard, they could do no better than a losing bonus point, courtesy of Lance’s late penalty.

connachT: T O’Halloran (C Kelleher 56, D Leader, B Aki, E Griffin (C Ronaldson 28), M Healy, J Carty, C Blade (K Marmion 55), D Buckley (P McCabe 73), D Heffernan (S Delahunt 55), D Robertson-McCoy (C Carey 43), Q Roux (C Gallagher 49), J Cannon, E McKeon, J Connolly (J Butler 3), E Masterson. scorers – Tries: Masterson, Healy. cons: Carty. Pens: Carty. worcesTer: C Pennell, T Howe, W Olivier, J Willison, J Adams, J Lance, J Arr (M Dowsett 50), E Waller (R Bower 63), J Singleton (M Williams 70), G Milasinovich (S Kerrod 55), P Phillips (D O’Callaghan 63), W Spencer, D Denton, A Fa’osiliva, GJ van Velze. reps not Used: Taylor, Olver, Humphreys. scorers – Tries: Adams. Pens: Lance. referee: Ian Davies (Wales).