The Guinness Premiership side built up a 21-0 lead by the half hour mark but a Conor O’Loughlin try just before half time had Connacht back in contention for the early stages of the second half.

However with both sides making the usual raft of changes around the hour mark the game lost shape and Harlequins proved to be shaper in attack and defence scoring three tries in the final quarter to mark a comfortable victory.

Connacht were without numerous front line players, Sean Cronin and Gavin Duffy are on extended breaks due to their involvement with the summer tour while John Muldoon, Keith Matthews and Frank Murphy are among the current injury list.

That list was added to early on with stand in captain Johnny O’Connor been forced off with what looked like a leg injury. Ray Ofisa took his place and performed well but Connacht were left reeling from a 14 minute spell around the midway point of the half.

Harlequins scored three quick tries with Tom Evans getting the first, hooker Matt  Cairns notching up number two while Mike Brown rounded off their first half scoring on 28 minutes. The hugely influential Evans kicked all three conversions.

O’Loughlin’s try came on the stroke of half time, it was a solo effort that stemmed from his alertness in taking a quick tap penalty on half way and bursting through a huge hole before cantering home under the posts, Keatley converted.

Connacht were more alert and aggressive on defence in the early stages of the second half, somewhat making amends for their first half errors. Replacements, Mike MCCarthy and Ofsa were to the fore at this stage but the interchanging towards the midway point of the half brought an end to the promising spell.

Quins finished very much in the ascendency although their first try of the second half came completely against the run of the play. Tom Williams intercepted Ezra Taylor’s pass as Connacht were on the attack in the visitors half. The winger sprinted half the length of the pitch to score.

That put an end to any hopes of a revival and tries from Ceri Jones and Gonzalo Camacho in the closing stages left an uneasy look on the scoreboard for the large home support to ponder. Connacht will hope for considerable improvements ahead of next Saturday’s final pre-season tussle with Saracens.

Connacht: T Nathan; T O’Halloran, N Ta’auso, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, C O’Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagen; M Swift, B Upton; A Browne, J O’Connor, M McComish.

Replacements Used: D Murphy, R Sweeney, D Buckley, D Nolan, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, E Taylor, A Kennedy, C Willis, M Nikora, E Griffin, D Fanning, S Monahan.

Harlequins: M Brown; T Williams, O Smith, J Turner-Hall, G Lowe; N Evans, K Dickson; J Marler, M Cairns, M Lambert; O Kohn, T Vallejos; C York,  W Skinner (c), T Guest.

Replacements Used: J Gray, C Jones, J Johnston, P Browne, L Stevenson, D Moore, R Clegg, C Matthews, T Casson, G Camacho.

 Connacht Coach Eric Elwood: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

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