Injury-ravaged Connacht fell to their first defeat in this season’s European Challenge Cup with a 29-5 loss to Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park this afternoon.
It was 5-all at half-time with Danie Poolman crossing for Connacht, but the hosts put in a dominant second half display to register four unanswered scores – two of them coming from penalty tries.
It was always going to be an uphill battle for Pat Lam’s men with only 22 players fit and available to travel, but his young side – including first-time starters Shane O’Leary and Conan O’Donnell – put in an impressive performance before the break.
The early exchanges were typically fast and frenetic on the 4G pitch, with Eoghan Masterson almost getting over for a try following a very encouraging break. He was pinged for a double movement and after a Masterson lineout take, Newcastle also managed to hold up a Connacht maul.
The westerners held a territorial edge, playing into the wind, but despite some strong running from Peter Robb, who had to go off for a head injury assessment, and Niyi Adeolokun, they had no points to show for their efforts.
But a couple of clinical finishes got the scoreboard moving in the right direction for both sides, Newcastle first moving lineout ball at pace and winger Marcus Watson cut through from the 10-metre line for a very well-taken five-pointer.
Connacht were level just past the half hour mark, though, as half-backs Caolin Blade and Jack Carty used scrum ball intelligently in the Falcons’ 22 and the latter’s skip pass released full-back Poolman for his second try in as many weeks.
Craig Ronaldson’s touchline conversion came back off the right hand post and although Adeolokun threatened soon after, Connacht had a let-off just before half-time when ‘blocking’ denied Newcastle out-half Craig Willis just as he was set to score.
Connacht’s list of walking wounded increased with Robb unable to return to the pitch, so replacement Carty slotted in at out-half and O’Leary joined Ronaldson in the centre.
However, the province had an awful start to the second period as Newcastle went close again from a break. The resulting five-metre scrum saw the Falcons put the pressure on and a penalty try was awarded by referee Ben Whitehouse who also sin-binned flanker Masterson.
Down to 14 men, it went from bad to worse for Connacht when five minutes later the hosts were over for another try, this time through centre Belisario Agulla. Willis missed his second of three conversion attempts but Newcastle were 17-5 up.
Connacht had a chance to reduce the gap but the long range penalty attempt from Ronaldson went wide, before Masterson made his return three minutes later.
The pressure continued to come from the Falcons, via a five-metre lineout and subsequent scrum, and they picked up their second penalty try – and the bonus point – when Connacht were penalised for repeated infringements. Willis converted for a 24-5 scoreline.
Newcastle kept their foot on the gas and Connacht had no answer, leaking another try before the hour was up. A break from full-back Simon Hammersley saw him offload for Watson to complete his brace. Willis pushed his conversion attempt wide.
Poolman had to got off with a rib injury, adding to Connacht’s woes. Ian Porter, the final back on the bench, came on at scrum half with Blade moving to the wing in the reshuffled back-line.
Promising young prop Saba Meunargia was introduced for his first senior appearance of the season, but the bench players had more defensive duties than opportunities to attack late on. Masterson and company did well to keep the Falcons from notching try number six, with today’s result seeing Connacht’s lead at the top of Pool 1 cut to just two points – Newcastle and Brive are chasing them on 11 points each.
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