Error ridden Dragons pay for early profligacy

DRAGONS coach Bernard Jackman lamented the butchering of two excellent chances in the first quarter and then the concession of four tries before the break.

They failed to execute simple two-on-one chances with Harrison Keddie unable to find his scrumhalf Rhodri Williams and then No.8 Taine Basham made a mess of a pass to wing Dafydd Howells with the try line at their mercy.

And they were made to pay at the Sportsground as Connacht took control and were out of sight with the bonus point in the bag when they went in leading 26-0 at the break.

“We should have got those two scores and at worst should have killed the ball but they came down and scored,” said Jackman, whose side have now lost 37 away games in a row in the competition.

“And we can’t keep giving up such easy tries, it makes it hard for us.”

Connacht took some time to stamp their authority but coach Andy Friend was pleased with the way they bounced back from their disappointing loss away to Ospreys.

“I was pleased with the opportunities we created and with the way we finished them off. It’s a good win,” said Friend who will now take his side to South Africa later this month.

His team never looked back once lock James Cannon drove over after a penalty to the right corner after 23 minutes.

Dragons were swept aside as Darragh Leader, a late replacement for the injured Cian Kelleher, crowned his first game of the season with a try in the right corner after a good break involving Tom Farrell and Tiernan O’Halloran.

New out-half David Horwitz, starting his first game since his summer move from the Rebels, created the third try with a break from deep before Farrell put Colby Fainga’a through for his first Connacht try and hooker Tom McCartney grabbed the bonus before the break.

Irish scrum-half Kieran Marmion came through unscathed as he chalked up game-time ahead of the autumn internationals.

Hallam Amos pulled back a try for Dragons in the third quarter but they never looked like staging a serious comeback.

Connacht took their foot off the pedal but Tom Farrell crowned a fine display with their fifth try ten minutes from time.

Dragons never gave up and forced Connacht to defend a 30-phase move in the final play before Basham got over for a consolation score.