Connacht In Challenge Cup Quarter Final

Connacht overturned a fifteen point deficit from the first leg to make their way into the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final by virtue of their 23-7 win over Narbonne

Connacht overturned a fifteen point deficit from the first leg to make their way into the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final by virtue of their 23-7 win over Narbonne yesterday in Corinthian Park, Galway.

Three second half Eric Elwood penalties helped them to a marvellous 16 point win to earn themselves a knock-out place against Pontypridd in January.

Connacht, trailing by 15 points from the first leg, opened the scoring with a Darren Yapp try in the 22nd minute and that was followed by one from Marnus Uijs moments later. Both were converted by Elwood to leave Coinnacht 14 points up at half time.

Elwood added a penalty to put his side two points ahead on aggregate but the French struck back with a converted try to take an overall lead of five points. Then, as he has done so often in the past, Elwood stepped up to crack over two more penalties to put Connacht 23-7 ahead on the day and one point to the good on aggregate. They had to survive a late touchline penalty but in truth they were full value for this win.