14-Man Connacht Suffer Late Heartbreak Against Edinburgh

14-man Connacht were left crestfallen after Nathan Chamberlain’s last-minute try consigned them to a 15-14 Guinness PRO14 defeat at home to Edinburgh.

Captain Jarrad Butler’s red card for a high tackle left Connacht clinging on during the final quarter, but out-half Chamberlain claimed the killer score which keeps Edinburgh in contention for Champions Cup rugby next season.

With first use of a blustery wind at the Sportsground, Connacht bookended the first half with tries from Academy centre Sean O’Brien – on his first start – and Shane Delahunt to lead 14-5.

Magnus Bradbury touched down for Edinburgh on the half-hour mark, and they left it late to punish Connacht’s indiscipline. Chamberlain drew them closer with a penalty before using late lineout possession to slip in under the posts.

The Scottish side, whose game last week against Benetton was postponed, came under immediate pressure with Gavin Thornbury, the eventual Guinness player-of-the-match, charging down a Charlie Shiel kick.

The hosts kept pressing and worked the ball wide for 22-year-old centre O’Brien to power over in the fourth minute. Jack Carty converted for a 7-0 lead.

A terrific no-look inside pass from prop Lee-Roy Atalifo saw Edinburgh finally fire in attack. Fellow front rowers Michael Willemse and Pierre Schoeman gained good ground before Bradbury knocked on.

There was no mistake from the Edinburgh lock in the 31st minute, as he finished off some patient round-the-corner driving. Bradbury’s try owed much to a brilliant initial break past halfway from Chamberlain.

However, with tighthead Jack Aungier carrying forcefully, Connacht hit back on the stroke of half-time. Hooker Delahunt crossed from a second maul attempt near the left corner and Carty added a crisp conversion.

A rain-sodden third quarter developed into a bit of a stalemate, with Edinburgh failing to profit from an advancing maul and the westerners unable to build on a burst from Alex Wootton.

The game swung massively in Edinburgh’s favour in the 56th minute when Butler was dismissed for his tackle on Andrew Davidson, which referee Chris Busby deemed a ‘shoulder charge’ with ‘no wrap’.

Eroni Sau soon surged up into the Connacht 22, and although the home defence held firm, Chamberlain made it a six-point game with a 69th minute penalty.

Although a Niall Murray lineout steal edged Connacht closer to the finish line, some costly penalties pinned the province back and Chamberlain exposed some tiring tackling to touch down and add the vital conversion.

It was a hugely frustrating finish for workmanlike Connacht, who dug deep a week on from falling out of contention for a PRO14 final place.

Despite the result, it was pleasing to see youngsters like O’Brien, Cian Prendergast and Oran McNulty, who had a solid cameo on his debut off the bench, all look the part at this level.