Dragons 20

Connacht 22

By JOHN FALLON

ANDY Friend says that Connacht’s fourth win in a row keeps them on course for a knockout spot in the URC and possible qualification for next season’s Champions Cup.

His men survived a nerve-wrecking encounter at Rodney Parade where they failed to make the most of an extra man for over half the game.

But a fourth win on the trot leaves them with a great chance of making the play-offs, not least as two of their three remaining games are at home.

“There were some moments there which we will be kicking ourselves where we had opportunities but we didn’t take them, but to get this win was vital for our season and I think it shows our continued growth and belief the boys have within the team at the moment,” said Friend.

He said he’s not surprised by this good run of form as it had been building for some time and the key thing now was to continue that momentum for the remainder of the campaign.

“I have felt it growing through the course of the season and I thought our last few weeks of training has been outstanding which is credit to Pete Wilkins and the coaching group, and to the players, so to come here and see that translate to some really good rugby was great,” added Friend.

Dragons, bidding to end a seven-match losing run, blew several chances in the closing stages to secure victory but Connacht held on for a win which keeps them on course for a knockout spot.

Dragons played out the closing eight minutes of the opening half with just 13 men on the field but Connacht were not able to make the numerical advantage count and went in level at 10-10.

David Hawkshaw, in for skipper Jack Carty who suffered a hamstring injury before the game, got Connacht off the mark with a penalty after ten minutes  but Dragons hit back and a superb break from hooker Bradley Roberts saw winger Ashton Hewitt send flanker Aaron Wainwright over for a quality try which Will Reed converted.

Connacht, having butchered a couple of good try scoring chances when Niall Murray and Cian Prendergast failed to connect just short of the line after earlier messing up a five-metre lineout in the right corner, finally got over after 22 minutes when an excellent offload by tighthead Jack Aungier put Prendergast through and he fended off full-back Angus O’Brien to score a converted try.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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