Username
Password
Connacht serve unlucky dish to Spanish guests..
By Sea_point November 17 2007
As expected Connacht easily put their Spanish visitors to the sword with a thirteen try demolition, with Danny Riordan bagging a hat-trick of tries and a brace apiece from Ofisa and Treviranus. Coach Michael Bradley made good use of the opportunity to give runs to local players Ronan Loughney, Peter Durcan, Joe Merrigan and second row Andrew Browne.

 MainStandTVMatchDay

Connacht 75 - 8 Cetransa El Salvador

Connacht bounced back from an error-ridden performance in Brive last eekend to open their win account in this season's European Challenge Cup with a facile 13-try victory over Spanish outsiders Cetransa El Salvador at the Sportsground tonight.

On an evening of perfect conditions for rugby, Connacht gave their European campaign a much needed boost in front of a big crowd (given the opposition) of 1,943 spectators.

An excellent hat-trick of tries from Danny Riordan appearing at outside centre on his return from injury, and two tries apiece from wings Aidan Wynne, Ofisa Treviranus and also the outstanding Ray Ofisa helped the westerners romp clear. Bradley's outfit had wrapped up the bonus point by the 26th-minute, and scored a total of seven tries in the first half to lead 39-3 at the interval.

After half-time the home side showed no sign of letting up with quick tries from Riordan and Ofisa before flanker Ivan Criado scored for the visitors to lift the sprits of their vocal travelling support. It was to be a short-lived spell of pressure for El Slavador as Connacht finished the game with tries from John Muldoon, Wynne, Riordan and Ofisa. The only negative on the night being out-half Tim Donnelly's continued struggles with the boot as he managed just three from nine place kicks before being replaced by Peter Durcan on 5 miutes.

Connacht started the evening well, scoring within two minutes after a well executed lineout and maul led to lively scrum half Conor O'Loughlin scoring from close range. Donnelly was wayward with the conversion, setting the tone for another bad night with the boot for the Australian.

El Salvador responded well and Redgarht VanEyk narrowed the gap with a well-taken penalty but, by the twelfth-minute, the writing was on the wall for the visitors with Connacht lock Michael Swift crashing over. Donnelly managed to convert from a tight angle.

Former Ireland Under-20 international Adrian Wynne was next on the score sheet for the home side after a Donnelly chip, and shortly after tighthead prop Robbie Morris sealed the bonus point by scoring his third try of the season for his new province.

Connacht did not let up as the break approached and finished the half strongly scoring three times in the final ten minutes. Winger Ofisa Treviranus popped up with two while the impressive Riordan got the seventh.

Attendance: 1,943

CONNACHT: Gavin Duffy; Ofisa Treviranus, Danny Riordan, Keith Matthews, Aidan Wynne; Tim Donnelly, Conor O'Loughlin; Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Robbie Morris, Michael Swift, Andrew Farley (capt), Michael McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, John Muldoon.

Replacements used: Darren Yapp for Treviranus (half-time), Conor McPhillips for O'Loughlin, Joe Merrigan for Flavin, Andrew Browne for Farley (all 53 mins), Peter Durcan for Donnelly, Ronan Loughney for Morris (both 57). Not used: Johnny O'Connor.

CETRANSA EL SALVADOR: Ignacio Gutierrez; Tomas Brouwer, Jose Revilla, Raul Turrion, Meeuwis Stanley; Redgarht Van Eyk, Daniel Hunter; Ion Insausti, Diego Zarzosa, Jose Zapatero (capt), Sergio Souto, Fabio Galloppa, Alfonso Mata, Ivan Criado, Carlos Souto.

Replacements used: Manuel Serrano for Zarzosa (half-time), Cesar Caballero for Insausti, Oscar Benito for Galloppa (both 55 mins), Daniel Norate for Mata (58), Fernando Suarez for Souto (63). Not used: Alejandro Gutierrez, Luis Cascon.

Scorers: Connacht: Tries: Conor O'Loughlin, Michael Swift, Aidan Wynne 2, Robbie Morris, Ofisa Treviranus 2, Danny Riordan 3, Ray Ofisa 2, John Muldoon; Cons: Tim Donnelly 3, Conor McPhillips, Peter Durcan El Salvador: Try: Ivan Criado; Pen: Redgarht Van Eyk

Referee: Gwyn Morris (Wales)

Bookmark or share this story with: