Connacht Punished For Defensive Lapses In 11-Try Thriller

Connacht bowed out of the European Challenge Cup’s last-16 after a frustrating 48-32 defeat to Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Despite the westerners registering tries through Kieran Marmion, Eoghan Masterson, Alex Wootton and stand-in captain Paul Boyle, it was the hosts who progressed through to the quarter-final.

Marmion’s sixth-minute score gave Connacht an early lift, and although they trailed 24-11 at half-time, Masterson touched down soon after the restart to keep them on Tigers’ tail.

On two occasions Andy Friend’s men had the gap down to two points, but the momentum was lost by some soft scores at the other end with the Leicester scrum and maul proving key weapons.

Connacht began the game looking to play with their trademark ambition and pace and they were rewarded for this approach inside the opening minutes.

Sean O’Brien made an incisive break and Marmion – running an intelligent trail line – caught the Academy centre’s offload and showed great pace to finish off in the left corner.

To their credit, Leicester responded well to that unconverted try and responded with two quick-fire scores of their own. Firstly, from a rolling maul – a regular source of tries for the English side – Charlie Clare dotted down.

Then, from a turnover in their own half, the hosts broke quickly and Guy Porter ran in a try down the blindside. Zack Henry converted for a 12-5 lead.

In a fast-paced and open game, the province scored next when Jack Carty, showing great accuracy from the tee — confidently slotted a penalty to reduce the deficit to four points.

Connacht continued to probe in search of scores and their pressure led to hooker Care receiving a yellow card for a high tackle. However, despite being a man down, Leicester scored another rapid brace of tries.

Matias Moroni reacted first to a spilled high ball and showed good awareness to swoop in for the try. Then, barely four minutes later, Henry scored after another counter-attacking move saw Leicester break quickly and decisively.

A heavy spell of Connacht pressure followed and, on the back of four penalties in the 22, Carty eventually rewarded their patience with a late three-pointer to close the gap to 13 points.

Into the second half, Connacht attacked with gusto right from the start. Tom Daly’s bludgeoning carry established field position, and flanker Masterson spotted a gap at the next ruck to slice through for a try borne of quick thinking.

Carty’s conversion was cancelled out by a Johnny McPhillips penalty, but Connacht kept the pressure on by adding their second try of the half in the 56th minute.

A typically enterprising attack saw replacement Caolin Blade deftly flick an excellent pass back inside for Wootton, on a sharp line, to burst through and use his speed and strength to reach in under the posts.

Carty’s conversion reduced the arrears to 27-25, yet with the tit-for-tat scoring continuing, Leicester used another lineout drive to put Clare over to complete his brace. McPhillips, the former Ireland Under-20 international, converted.

Connacht, though, kept plugging away and pacy number 8 Boyle personified this when he spotted a gap at a ruck and weaved in for a try that Carty converted, leaving it 34-32 with 10 minutes remaining.

Crucially, Tigers were next to score when replacement Harry Wells barged over from close range. Henry converted to put nine points between the sides.

Two minutes from the end, Leicester powerhouse Jasper Wiese smashed his way over from the back of a scrum. Connacht ended the night with 14 men following John Porch’s yellow for a tackle in the air.