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Bonus Point Win as Connacht look to Europe
By Rob Murphy @ www.knockon.iw
April 7 2009
In one sense you probably could sit back during a season like this and merely accept it for what it is. A rollercoaster with highs and lows of bizarre proportions. You could deride those wavering folk for getting too carried away with it all on the basis that it will all sort itself out in the end but people like that don't get sport, do they?


Connacht 39
Dragons 17

By Rob Murphy - courtesy of www.knockon.ie

Audio: John Muldoon

In one sense you probably could sit back during a season like this and merely accept it for what it is. A rollercoaster with highs and lows of bizarre proportions. You could deride those wavering folk for getting too carried away with it all on the basis that it will all sort itself out in the end but people like that don't get sport, do they?


For those people, a match ticket is no different than a theatre pass. The audience and critics should sit observe and accept it for what its. Honest sports fans know that in reality a sports ticket and particularly a Connacht ticket is more akin to purchasing a scratch card. You really don't know what's in store but you can't help yourself.

Who could have foreseen this beforehand, who could have foreseen it at half time for that matter? The crowd were vocal but the numbers were poor and the performance in that first half was generally flat. The Dragons led 10-3 thanks to Richard Fussels try and Connacht looked in a small bit of bother.

What transpired after the break was the best forty minutes, in an attacking sense, the Sportsground has seen this season. Five tries. Five explosive scores to whet the appetite, raise spirits and lift the gloom which was descending around rugby in this region. It might be only a brief let up, who really knows at this stage but why not bask in it while it lasts.

There is no point over analysing the fact that time and time again Connacht are too good for the fourth ranked Welsh region yet never managed to match them in the table. No point asking why this form can't be reproduced consistently either. This rollercoaster is still moving and there will be time for more analysis anon. Northampton on Saturday awaits but before we go there is a story to be told.

Connacht were absolutely superb after half time. The five try blitz gave them a rare Magners League bonus point and it opens the door ajar ever so slightly once more in the hunt for the holy grail. It's probably not going to happen but at least those final few games will have something on them.

The first try of that second half came after four minutes and was sparked by a superb offload from Niva Ta'auso to Gavin Duffy and finished off by Ray Ofisa who had run a superb support line to score under the post. Ian Keatley slotted the conversion

At this stage the home side were very much in thee ascendancy. A half break from Gavin Duffy and some excellent service from Conor O'Loughlin paved the way for the second try four minutes later finished off by Fionn Carr in the corner to stretch the lead to 15-10.

The Dragons were rattled and by the hour mark Connacht had a third try with Liam Bibo finishing off a brilliant blindside attack sparked by some quick thinking from Ian Keatley at fly half. The conversion was nailed also and the home side now led by 12.

A crunching John Muldoon tackle on the Dragons 22 forced a turnover with 13 minutes remaining and paved the way for Ian Keatley to stretch his side into a three score lead. That cameo epitomised the captain's effort in a dominant Connacht back row with Ofisa and Johnny O'Connor also to the fore.

Connacht only had to wait four more minutes for the bonus point with Ta'auso crowning a superb second half performance by intercepting deep in his own half and running the length of the field to score under the posts.

Keatley converted that score and late on Carr got his second after an audacious long pass from Keith Matthews. Keatley crowned the night with a conversion and Danny Lyydiate's injury time try was a mere consolation for the overrun visitors. Shaun Connors converted.

A few things are clear, this group of players are capable of much more than last place in the Magners League and they have the ability to do this away from home if they can just find that spark inspiration that is sometimes lacking. Northampton on a Saturday is a mountain compared to this molehill but you get the feeling Connacht will be packing the hiking boots in determined mood.

Connacht: G Duffy; F Carr, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, L Bibo; I Keatley, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney; A Browne, A Farley; J Muldoon, J O'Connor, R Ofisa.

B McGovern for Loughney 66 mins; A Flavin for Cronin 68 mins; T Nathan for Bibo 73 mins; M Swift for Ofisa 76 mins; C Rigney for O'Connor 79 mins; A Dunne for Keatley 79 mins.

Newport Gwent Dragons: K Morgan; R Fussell, R Sidey, A Smith, A Brew; J Tovey, W Evans, H Gustafson, T Willis (Capt), R Thomas; S Tomes, L Charteris; H Macdonald, Richard Parks, Joe Bearman,

Replacements: A Jones for Tomes 49 mins; N Hall for Gustafason, 54 mins; D Lydiate for Parks 54 mins; M Thomas for Morgan 68 mins, S Connor for Sidey 68 mins.

Att 1272

Ref: N Paterson

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