By Rob Murphy
April 16 2006

Connacht recorded their fifth straight home win on Saturday with a powerful forward display and some sublime kicking from the boot of Mark McHugh. The victory keeps the westerners on course for Heineken Cup rugby with three of their remaining four games at the Sportsground. Three Welsh sides have now lost at the Sportsground with the Ospreys still to come.

Newport started ten full internationals and showed just one change from the side that beat Munster last week, yet Connacht dominated up front for long periods and were deserved winners.

The opening period saw both sides test each other out but Connacht were first on the scoreboard with a penalty into the wind from McHugh.

The Dragons response was impressive with Luke Charteris scoring a try in the corner on 14 minutes. It all came from a tap tackle on Paul Warwick as he tried to clear and the touchline conversion from Craig Warlow meant the lead was four.

Connacht kept up the tempo and started to get the edge in the loose thanks to Christian Short, Colm Rigney and John Muldoon while some superb kicking from McHugh kept them in position.

The Dragons threatened again on the half hour when an impressive break in midfield lead to three more points from Warlow. That had come just minutes after Mark McHugh had narrowed the gap with a kick of his own.

The visitors visited the Connacht 22 just once in the second half. Their 10-6 half time lead had been perilous and they quickly fell behind after the restart with kicks in the 45th and 49th minute from Mark McHugh.

Connacht were now in control and they defended that attack from Dragons superbly, especially out wide. This gave them the impetus to push on and with the likes of Michael Swift, John Fogarty and David Gannon hitting rucks, the Dragons were getting very little ball.

Deep into injury the men in green were camped out on the visitors line and a penalty allowed McHugh to seal the deal. The final whistle followed the out half's well-struck kick, keeping Connacht¹s European dream alive and the 2006 unbeaten home record intact.