Connacht were unable to mark John Muldoon’s record 200th GUINNESS PRO12 appearance with a win as Tom James’ 54th-minute try helped Cardiff Blues prevail by four points at a windy BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
Connacht fell to only their second defeat of the current campaign with injuries to Craig Ronaldson, Quinn Roux and both scrum halves hampering their hopes of building on last week’s derby victory over Munster.
Credit to Cardiff, they produced a superior second half display, striking at crucial stages through try scorer Tom James and goal-kicker Rhys Patchell to gleefully end their seven-match losing streak.
Despite looking the better team with ball in hand, Pat Lam’s men lacked the clinical edge they showed at Thomond Park and failed to score from a barnstorming Bundee Aki break and a five-metre lineout during the closing stages.
In a well-contested first half, Connacht cancelled out Manoa Vosawai’s fifth-minute try with touchdowns from Ian Porter and Eoin McKeon. The former hit the woodwork with both conversions but his 26th-minute penalty split the sides at the break – 13-10.
The third quarter was scoreless until Cardiff worked an overlap for winger James to score. Patchell converted and swapped penalties with Jack Carty, but Connacht’s attempts to cross the whitewash late on were thwarted by a resolute Blues defence.
Cardiff, who lost 36-31 at the Sportsground in October, pressed from a series of early lineout mauls, the third of which saw Connacht unable to stop a five-metre drive and lively number 8 Vosawai crashed over with Patchell converting from the left.
Connacht were yet to fire a shot but Dave Heffernan did really well to dive on a loose ball past halfway and Tiernan O’Halloran, haring after a Porter kick, showed great pace and strength to force Patchell to concede a five-metre scrum.
Although the Blues defended well initially, in-form lock Aly Muldowney exploited some space on the left, linking with Matt Healy whose instinctive pass gave Porter the opportunity to snipe over in the left corner. The try scorer was unfortunate to strike the right hand post with his touchline conversion attempt.
The westerners increased their share of possession and territory towards the end of the first quarter, a well-won ruck penalty by Aki setting up a lineout in the 22 and Roux’s take was followed by a powerful maul that gave number 8 McKeon a simple finish.
For the second time Porter’s conversion effort bounced away off the right post and Cardiff were level at 10-all within minutes, Patchell clipping over a central scrum penalty.
The Blues immediately handed back those three points, Porter splitting the posts from just inside the 22, and Connacht enjoyed some further pressure down the left flank with replacement centre Peter Robb and Healy breaking tackles.
A couple of handling errors blighted promising attacks for both sides, Lou Reed losing the ball in contact and Reed then redeemed himself by disrupting Roux at a five-metre lineout following a terrific Healy break.
Unfortunately Roux soon added to Connacht’s lengthy injury list, the stretcher required after he suffered a suspected leg fracture, but the province held off a late rally from Cardiff sparked by their Samoan centre Rey Lee-Lo.
Connacht’s bad luck with injuries continued on the restart with Kieran Marmion going off for a head injury assessment. Rory Parata came on and Healy slotted in at scrum half.
Patchell sent a straightforward penalty wide following a harsh call against James Connolly and the home side lost good field position after Vosawai was guilty of going off his feet at a ruck.
A vital tackle from flanker Connolly brought Alex Cuthbert down as Cardiff threatened out wide, but the pressure was coming from the Blues and a smart finish from James saw them retake the lead. Patchell’s conversion made it 17-13.
It appeared that the injuries, including one for try scorer McKeon, and last week’s exertions were taking their toll on Connacht’s play. Apart from a Parata run down the right touchline, Cardiff managed to contain the visitors’ attacks in and around their 10-metre line.
Aki coughed up a ruck penalty on halfway and it proved costly as Patchell had the accuracy and distance with the wind behind him. Cardiff leaked a similar infringement following an Aki-inspired attack, though, with Carty landing the central place-kick for 20-16.
Two excellent plays from Aki, who forced a ruck penalty in his 22 and in the next phase dashed over halfway on a lightning quick break, brought Connacht downfield but he lacked support and Parata’s subsequent pass was fumbled by fellow replacement Sean O’Brien.
At the very next scrum in the 74th minute, young prop Conan O’Donnell helped to win a penalty which Carty booted into the left corner. However, Cardiff successfully defended the maul and a further knock-on from Connacht, coupled with a no-arms tackle from Carty, allowed the Blues to hold on for a much-needed win.
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