Bealham try seals win after pair from Godwin

KYLE Godwin scored tries in each half as Connacht got their Cup campaign off to a convincing start at the Sportsground.

The home win was rarely in threat here, but Connacht still needed a late Finlay Bealham try to be sure of the win after Afa Amosa crashed over after 52 minutes to put a converted try between the teams.

“It was tough, we made life pretty hard for ourselves but we got the points,” said coach Andy Friend, whose side face Sale next weekend.

“Conditions didn’t help but sometimes it’s hard to put your finger on it. For too many periods in the first-half we had to go for it, but we slowed the thing down. Sometimes you don’t get it all right.”

The opening try came off the top of a strong lineout move, which was eventually finished off by Godwin after 14 minutes, while a conversion and penalty from Jack Carty put Connacht 10-0 up.

Just before the break Lucas Meret slotted an easy kick and his side trailed 10-3 at the interval, but soon after the restart Connacht pulled clear when Godwin dived on a loose ball for his second try.

After nearly 60 minutes of hanging on BordeauxBegles pulled to within one score when replacement Amosa scored from close range off the back of a fivemetre scrum, but the home side sealed the win in the 67th minute when replacement Bealham scored off a rolling maul.