Connacht 31

Dragons 7

By JOHN FALLON at Dexcom Stadium

CONNACHT did all that was required of them to see off Dragons at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday night and head into the November break sitting in fifth spot in the URC table.

Once more Cathal Forde led the way, crossing for his fourth try of the campaign and was superb in all aspects of his game, including the kicking duties he took over when Jack Carty was injured in the warm-up.

“We knew the Dragons wouldn’t got away and it was a very tough second-half,” said Forde. “We knew after last week that we could have done better getting out of our half and playing in the right areas of the pitch, and I think we did it better tonight.”

Forde paid tribute to replacement scrum-half Matthew Devine for setting him for the bonus point try six minutes from time.

“Mattie did very well to get around the ruck, it was a scrappy ruck and he did very well to nip through and I was lucky enough to be on his left shoulder and get through to score.”

Connacht were on top in all key positions and turned the screw on the Welsh side to notch their third win of the campaign with an accomplished display. They dominated the opening half and were full value for their 19-0 interval lead after bossing matters from the outset.

A late change saw Josh Ioane start instead of Carty but Pete Wilkins’ side got on top from the moment they won a penalty on Cardiff’s first scrum of the night.

They went for the corner and were rewarded for their ambition and while Dragons initially held the onslaught, Paul Boyle found a way over and Connacht were off the mark after five minutes. Forde was entrusted with kicking duties and duly added the extras for the perfect start.

Their pack led the way with Joe Joyce pilfering a lineout as Dragons threatened but the Newport side didn’t help their own cause with Angus O’Brien missing touch with a penalty down the left after ten minutes.

And when Dragons did carve an opening they found the home defence in top form with Bundee Aki and Piers O’Conor denying Ewan Rosser when a try for the visitors seemed inevitable.

Pictured: Connacht’s Peter Dooley, who has Niall Murray  in support, leads this charge against the Dragons during Saturday’s URC clash at Dexcom Stadium. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.