Connacht efficiency finally edges battling Dragons

United Rugby Championship: Dragons v Connacht

Dragons (14) 27

Tries: Hughes, R Williams, Dyer Cons: Evans 3 Pens: Evans 2

Connacht: (19) 34

Tries: Hurley-Langton, Bealham, Porch, Heffernan, Tierney-Martin Cons: Hanrahan 2, Forde Pens: Hanrahan

Connacht’s efficiency finally told as they clinched a late victory over a spirted Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Shamus Hurley-Langton, Finlay Bealham and John Porch all scored in the first half early score yet Connacht could not shrug Dragons off their coattails.

Steff Hughes, Rhodri Williams and Rio Dyer all hit back while Cai Evans kicked perfectly to see the hosts twice draw level in the second half.

It was not until Dylan Tierney-Martin’s 72nd-minute try from a driving maul, Connacht’s most potent weapon, eventually settled a tight contest.

Connacht had seen play-off rivals Ulster and Edinburgh secure victories, though defeats for Benetton, Ospreys and Lions meant this precious bonus-point victory saw them climb to sixth, on points difference, in the United Rugby Championship.

The only disappointment was a worrying knee injury to fly-half JJ Hanrahan, who was carried off on a stretcher.

Dragons have still only won three league games this season and just one of their last six, though there was plenty to admire in this battling display.

Connacht dominated the first half, particularly at the scrum, so will have been perplexed at how they were only five points ahead at the break.

They lost returning pair Denis Buckley and number eight Cian Prendergast inside 15 minutes to injuries but still scored three early tries.

Hurley-Langton crashed over inside three minutes after poor kicking by Rhodri Williams gifted the visitors territory.

The scrum-half was among ten changes after Dai Flanagan overhauled his team, though saw flanker Harri Keddie withdraw before kick-off with a tight hamstring.

That included a recall for Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright, who failed to emerge for the second half after a head injury.

Wales hooker Elliot Dee made his 150th appearance for the region and had a hand in the Dragons immediate response, gathering from a lineout before centre Hughes cut a clean gap to the line.

But it was a rare moment of possession and territory for Dragons.

Bealham barged over for the visitors’ second try, after scrum-half Matt Devine bounced off a series of tired challenges, before Bundee Aki’s long pass found wing Porch unmarked on the left wing for an easy finish.

However Rhodri Williams scampered over on the stroke of half time to cut the gap to 19-15.

Connacht struck early in the second half through hooker Heffernan to clinch the bonus point fourth try after Dee was shown a yellow card.

But again Dragons came back, even with 14 men, as Wales wing Dyer won the foot race to Jordan Williams’ well-weighted kick and Evans levelled with a touchline conversion.

Evans and Hanrahan traded penalties before the Irishman was carried off on a stretcher following a worrying knee injury and Connacht's driving maul eventually settled the game late on.

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said: "It's disappointing to lose at home especially after the effort was so good.

"We were on the ropes i the first half but we showed some character to keep coming back but the challenge is now to match that intensity with accuracy.

"We gave them too many ins with errors and penalties, but the talent and effort was all there. It was frustrating that we didn't get more."

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins said: "We knew how tough it is at Rodney Parade with the emotion the Dragons bring so it was huge to get five points ahead of three massive games.

"We led early on but couldn't really kick on and Dragons wouldn't go away, which shows their strength.

"But getting the bonus was hugely important because I've never seen it so tight in the table in terms of the play-offs."

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes (capt), Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Cai Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Sean Lonsdale, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Luke Yendle, George Nott, Barry Langton, Che Hope, Will Reed, Joe Westwood

Sin bin: Dee (44)

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Shane Jennings, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, John Porch; JJ Hanrahan, Matthew Devine; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Gavin Thornbury, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Paul Boyle.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear & Gareth Newman (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)