By LDTT
November 21 2006

So Connacht lost their fourth game in a row and gained a losing bonus point. Considering the quality of their start, they could have won this game. They were beaten by Ben Blairs fifth penalty on 70 minutes, which gave Cardiff a 2 point lead which they held to the end. So where did it all go wrong? Matt Mostyn tore through the cover after a minute to score what was to be the games only try. A great dummy line by Hearty sucked in the defence, and Warwicks skip pass was perfect to the former Ireland international through to the left of the posts. Mostyn was injured in the process and had to be replaced by Conor McPhilips.

Three Ben Blair penalties sandwiched two from Paul Warwick to leave Connacht leading 13-9 at the break. The game was by no means safe, when McHugh & Rigney replaced Warwick & O'Connor just after half time. This was probably thought to be a good option to hold onto the lead, but in the second half Connacht didn't get on the score board.

O'Loughlin, Fogarty & Hogan all entered the fray on about 60 minutes and they couldn't give the boost the side badly needed. Connacht were criticised after the match for going sideways or backwards at set plays. McHugh at outhalf was thumping the ball back into the Cardiff half, but this play was never going to deliver the required tries.

Now with 9 games played in the league, Connacht have only 18 points, but with a group of players whose efforts deserved more. Connacht will have to look at their style of play and focus on what is working for them, and what isn't. This is the point of the season which will show whether Michael Bradley is as good a coach as we all think he is.

Connacht: 15 Daniel Riordan, 14 Matt Mostyn, 13 John Hearty, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Darren Yapp, 10 Paul Warwick, 9 Chris Keane, 8 John Muldoon, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 Brendan O'Connor, 5 Andrew Farley (capt), 4 David Gannon, 3 Brett Sturgess, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: C McPhillips for Mostyn, inj. 2 mins; M McHugh for Warwick, 48 mins; C Rigney for O’Connor, 48 mins; C O’Loughlin for Keane, 60 mins; J Fogarty for Flavin, 60 mins; R Hogan for Wilkinson, 64 mins.

Try: Mostyn
Con: Warwick
Pens: Warwick 2

Referee: Neil Paterson
Touch judges: Neil Ballard, Keri Evans
Assessor: Johnny Bacigalupo