RED CARD PROVES CRUCIAL IN DEFEAT
BRAVE Cardiff fell to a narrow defeat against Connacht, having played with 14 men for more than an hour.
Matt Sherratt’s side were dealt an early blow at a rain-soaked Cardiff Arms Park, with Rey LeeLo shown a red card after 15 minutes for a high tackle on Shayne Bolton.
But the hosts rallied in the wake of the centre’s dismissal, with Ben Thomas putting his side ahead with a well-taken try minutes later.
They ended the half with 13 men after Lopeti Timani was yellow-carded, but went into the break marginally ahead, with the boot of Connacht’s JJ Hanrahan cutting the deficit to one point.
But despite a bright start to the second half, with Timani returning to the field to score, a Peter Dooley try and another two kicks from Hanrahan saw the visitors claim victory.
With nine players away on international duty and with no win to their name since Boxing Day, Cardiff faced a challenge with Sherratt naming lock Ben Donnell in the starting line-up less than 24 hours after he signed from Gloucester.
But after an emotional prematch tribute was paid to the late Barry John, it was the hosts who started the brightest.
After putting some early pressure on, it looked like they had suffered a hammer blow when Lee-Lo was dismissed for the nasty head-on-head challenge.
But being a man down seemed to fuel them as they attacked the Connacht line, with Thomas selling a dummy to dart through the defence and cross to the crowd’s delight.
The visitors looked to respond but were repelled by a brilliant defensive effort from Sherratt’s side, with Thomas Young particularly impressive after his recent injury woes.
Connacht looked as though they’d get their chance when another high tackle saw Timani sent to the bin, but they went into the break a point behind with only two Hanrahan penalties to their name.
Sherratt’s men struck first in the second half with Timani bundling over the line moments after re-entering the fray, but Tinus de Beer couldn’t add the extras as he skewed his conversion wide.
The game was still there for the taking but both sides struggled with the greasy ball as the rain continued to fall in the capital.
Another valiant defensive effort from Cardiff kept Connacht at bay, but they were finally worn down just after the hour mark as they got their try through Dooley.
Hanrahan added an extra two points as the visitors took back the lead, with another penalty minutes later putting them four points to the good.
The home side threw everything at it as they looked for a winning try, but as time ticked on they found themselves stuck inside their own half, with the Irish side smothering attacks and holding on for victory.
It was a brave effort from Sherratt’s men, but ultimately one that ended in disappointment, with third-placed Leinster up next.