Connacht ran five tries past French visitors Bayonne in round 3 of the European Challenge Cup tonight to ensure that Pat Lam’s men remain undefeated at the Sportsground this season.
Man-of-the-match Danie Poolman (2), Bundee Aki, Dave McSharry and WIllie Faloon all crossed the whitewash, with Jack Carty kicking 15 points in difficult weather conditions in Galway.
Replacement out-half Craig Ronaldson added a conversion of his own late into the second half, as the province finished strongly having been 15-12 ahead at half-time.
Connacht stay in second place in Pool 2, a point behind leaders Exeter Chiefs who were bonus point winners away to La Rochelle. The westerners travel to the French town of Bayonne for round 4 next Saturday.
Bayonne’s Argentine full-back Martin Bustos Moyano kicked his side into an early lead with a penalty on five minutes after he had missed his opening shot at goals two minutes previously.
Carty responded immediately with a penalty of his own to level the scores but Bustos Moyano, with the wind at his back, kicked two more between the posts before Poolman (pictured below) crossed for the opening try of the game in the 19th minute.
A five-metre lineout set up a brilliant maul and the ball went to the back-line as the South African winger ran a brilliant line to take the pass inside him and dive over. Carty added the conversion to put Connacht 10-9 ahead.
Bayonne hit back five minutes later with another Bustos Moyano penalty when the hosts were penalised for coming in at the side of the ruck. Carty had a chance to respond but into the wind, his kick was wayward.
Just before the break, though, a Connacht lineout on the Bayonne 22 set up the platform for an impressive maul. The ball was popped out to the backs and through the hands of Carty, Aki and McSharry who spotted Poolman again in space to run in for his fifth try of the season.
Carty looked to have the accuracy with his conversion attempt but the wind held up the ball, leaving Pat Lam’s charges with a 15-12 advantage to take into the second period.
Determined Bayonne started to probe the Connacht defence almost immediately from the restart. From a lineout drive, tighthead prop Florian Lapeyrade got over for his side’s only try of the night which replacement outhalf Clement Otazo converted.
But, from there, Connacht were the more clinical side and made the most of the try-scoring opportunites that they created.
Kieran Marmion’s high box kick on the hour mark fell loose on the edge of the 22 and Aki gratefully picked up to run in his first try in a Connacht jersey. Ten minutes later, the bonus point was secured following another powerful lineout and driving maul. The ball went back to Carty who fed McSharry (pictured below) to dive in beside the posts.
With the four tries coming from the backs, replacement flanker Willie Faloon claimed the fifth score from a maul in the corner, with eight minutes left. Ronaldson, only just on the pitch, kicked the extras for a 23-point winning margin.
Giving his reaction after the game, Connacht boss Pat Lam said: “It was a good win…emphasis on good. We achieved the goal of looking after the Sportsground for 2014. Got the win and the bonus point. But we had too many troughs in that game.
“The pleasing thing was how the boys regrouped. But building to what is to come, we can’t afford those troughs. We need more consistency. The quality of the tries in those conditions was pleasing but we are forever trying to perfect and improve.”
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