Connacht rolled over at home by six-try Warriors
CONNACHT have been gaining rave reviews this season for their enterprising play under the guidance of Andy Friend, but yesterday afternoon it all fell flat in front of their disappointed home supporters at the Sportsground.
Weakened by the absence of players like Jack Carty, Byndee aki and Mack Hansen, away on Six Nations duty with Ireland, Friend’s side were comfortably beaten by a Glasgow side (also affected by international call-ups) who played with tremendous energy throughout.
Rufus McLean and Kyle Steyn both touched down twice in a performance that will infuse the Scottish side with confidence. Chasing their third straight league victory, Warriors led 17-10 at half-time thanks to tries from McLean, Steyn and co-captain Fraser Brown.
Connacht hit back through Sam Arnold during Richie Gray’s sinbinning, and a Paul Boyle try drew them level in the 43rd minute.
Connacht’s debutant fly-half Cathal Forde kicked 10 points, but McLean and Steyn struck again on the hour mark and replacement Johnny Matthews rounded off the six-try success late on.
Glasgow’s attack and backs coach Nigel Carolan, who joined from Connacht last summer, would have been pleased with the visitors’ early sharpness, which led to a second-minute try. Their ability to get over the gain line saw winger McLean cross in the left corner, via a George Horne pass.
Facing into the wind, Glasgow lost the momentum when lock Gray was binned for a dangerous clear-out on Ultan Dillane. A fine 50:22 kick from Tiernan O’Halloran, on his 200th appearance, got Connacht into range and Forde’s short pass sent Arnold over for a seven-pointer.
Warriors ended the opening quarter with a 12-7 lead, Steyn shrugging off Tom Farrell’s attempted tackle to score after good work from Sione Tuipulotu.
While Connacht’s line-out was misfiring, a well-executed maul sent Brown over for a try five minutes before the break.
Forde snuck in a late penalty to close the gap to seven points, and with Oisin Dowling providing an impact off the bench, Connacht were much improved on the resumption.
Number eight Boyle burrowed over for Forde to kick Connacht level, and then Forde cancelled out a Duncan Weir penalty with his second of the contest.
Boyle’s binning for going off his feet had the hosts under pressure, though, and Weir looped a pass out for McLean to notch the bonus point in the corner.
Weir then converted Steyn’s second score, the South Africanborn centre capitalising on a partially-blocked kick.
A disappointing Connacht side had little left in the tank, leaving Weir to tag on a penalty and convert Matthews’ 80th-minute maul try.