Connacht keep up hunt for knock-out spot and Champions Cup slot by slaying Dragons

Connacht remain firmly in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages of the URC and a place in next season’s Champions Cup after surviving a nervous test at Rodney Parade.

Connacht never trailed in the contest but yet never made the victory safe, even when Dragons had a man sent off eleven minutes from time.

Connacht enjoyed 71 per cent possession in the opening half but had to be content with a 19-14 interval advantage after the Dragons struck for their second try deep into stoppage time to stay in the contest despite a tackle count of 110 from the Dragons to 21 for the visitors.

Pete Wilkins knew the value of laying down an early marker at Rodney Parade and Shamus Hurley-Langton duly obliged when he got over in just two minutes after sustained early pressure.

JJ Hanrahan could hardly have hoped for an easier kick to mark his return to a club where he spent last season as he tapped over the simple conversion.

But Dragons hit back and got back on level terms three minutes later when outside centre Steff Hughes spotted a gap in the Connacht defence and raced through to score a converted try.

Connacht, though, were on top in most key areas and that was reflected on the scoreboard at the end of the opening quarter when Matthew Devine, fresh from his man-of-the-match performance on his first start last week, almost made the line but from the recycle tighthead Finlay Bealham got over and Hanrahan converted.

Further good pressure yielded a third try after 25 minutes when Bundee Aki went wide to send John Porch over in the left corner.

But Dragons hit back just before the break and scrum-half Rhodri Williams scored in the left corner and Cai Evans converted to cut the gap to 19-14 at the interval.

Dragons went on the offensive after the restart, but flanker Sean Lonsdale was pinged for a high tackle on Devine and Connacht worked their way from the 22 to within five metres with a couple of penalties before hooker Dave Heffernan scored the bonus point off a line after Welsh hooker Elliot Dee, on his 150th appearance for the Dragons, was binned for conceding a couple of penalties.

But Dragons hit back. Evans reduced the margin with a penalty and then a good move after a crooked Connacht lineout on halfway ended with full-back Jordan Williams treading a neat grubber, which Rio Dyer chased down the right to score. Evans landed a superb conversion from the right touchline to tie the sides at 22-22 while still down a man.

Connacht responded with a penalty from Hanrahan after 59 minutes but then made a mess of the restart and Dragons levelled through a penalty from Evans after going through 23 attacking phases inside the 22.

Hanrahan’s night ended with a knee injury that saw him stretchered off after he was checked by Williams off the ball as Dragons pressed forward and the game restarted with a clearance penalty to Connacht rather than a home put-in.

Cathal Forde took over at out-half, and from his penalty, Connacht worked 13 phases before a high tackle by lock Ben Carter on Shane Jennings resulted in a red card for the Dragons player.

Forde opted to touch from 30 metres, and with an advantage for another offside, replacement hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin got over for the try to put them in front, with Forde’s conversion making it 34-27 with nine minutes left.

Scorers: Dragons – Tries: S Hughes, R Williams, R Dyer. Cons: C Evans (3). Pens: Evans (2). Connacht – Tries: S Hurley-Langton, F Bealham, J Porch, D Heffernan, D Tierney-Martin. Cons: JJ Hanrahan (2), C Forde. Pen: Hanrahan.

Dragons: J Williams; R Dyer, S Hughes (c), A Owen (J Westwood), E Rosser (J Benjamin 52-54); C Evans, R Williams (C Hope 75); R Jones (R Martinez 59), E Dee, C Coleman; B Carter, M Screech; H Keddie, T Basham, A Wainwright (G Nott 41).

Connacht: T O’Halloran; S Jennings, T Farrell, B Aki, J Porch; JJ Hanrahan (C Forde 67), M Devine (C Blade 63); D Buckley (P Dooley 5), D Heffernan (c) (D Tierney-Martin 66), F Bealham (S Illo 63); J Joyce, G Thornbury (O Dowling 50); S Hurley-Langton, C Oliver (J Butler 63), C Prendergast (P Boyle 14).

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)

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