Connacht made quite a statement in their first ever Heineken Cup outing, scoring tries through Tiernan O’Halloran and captain Gavin Duffy before Harlequins copperfastened a 25-17 home victory with two closing penalties.
Connacht were left frustrated by their failure to garner at least a losing bonus point from this Pool 6 opener. Given their level of commitment and hard work over the 80 minutes, they deserved to take something home.
But their loss of discipline at crucial stages allowed Harlequins get out of a sticky situation and extend their unbeaten run in all competitions this season to 11 matches.
Conor O’Shea’s side benefited from six penalty goals from their New Zealand out-half Nick Evans, whose half-back partner Karl Dickson was responsible for their only try.
The visitors gave the Aviva Premiership leaders a real scare as Tiernan O’Halloran and the excellent Gavin Duffy, playing against his former club, crossed for tries in each half.
Duffy’s 57th-minute effort saw Connacht patiently build the phases and create an opening on the left for their skipper to score. The successful conversion from replacement out-half Niall O’Connor made it a two-point game – 19-17.
But Evans held his nerve to convert a brace of clinching penalties after 75 and 77 minutes, ending Connacht’s brave fight for a bonus point.
It was still a display that Eric Elwood can take a number of positives from, the forwards sticking stubbornly to the task and young backs like Eoin Griffin, O’Halloran and David McSharry warming to this top rung of European rugby.
Connacht got off to a flying start, building huge pressure through their forwards but it was Harlequins who struck first with an Evans penalty after just four minutes of play.
His opposite number Miah Nikora levelled things up, three minutes later, with a long range kick from inside the ‘Quins half, but it was not long before referee Jerome Garces penalised Connacht for going offside and Evans put the home side back in front.
A monstrous Connacht scrum demolished the ‘Quins pack and with the forward momentum, their back-line suddenly sprang into life.
Duffy and McSharry got on the ball and Griffin dummied his way through before sending O’Halloran over for the first try of the game which Nikora converted.
Evans brought Harlequins back to within a point after Connacht defended their try-line from a series of pick and go drives.
‘Quins scored a try when scrum half Dickson crashed over from close range on the half hour mark and Evans’ accurate conversion put the home side 16-10 ahead.
He extended that lead with two minutes left in the half with another penalty kick, following a high tackle on the hosts’ captain Chris Robshaw.
Connacht started the second half much the brighter though with line breaks from Griffin, O’Halloran and inspirational lock Michael Swift.
John Muldoon and Mike McCarthy exerted their power up front and it was not long before the pressure turned to territory. After twelve minutes of the half, the newly-introduced O’Connor drifted a penalty attempt just to the right of the posts.
But Connacht managed to quickly get back on the attack and with the travelling supporters in full voice, Duffy chipped to the corner and Brian Tuohy’s pressure won a lineout five metre out from the ‘Quins line.
The westerners dominated the next five minutes, just yards from the whitewash, and having gone right and then left, some slick passing, sparked by O’Connor, put Duffy darting over to the left of the posts.
O’Connor converted to close the gap for Elwood’s men to only two points. They continued to pile on the pressure with slick hands and fast feet from the backs forcing ‘Quins back into their own half.
After a penalty from a scrum on the halfway line, ‘Quins kicked to the corner. From the resulting phases, Evans chipped through but the retreating McCarthy got back to deny the home side a second try.
Despite Connacht remaining very much in the hunt, ‘Quins gained vital territory and an offside decision against Connacht proved very costly when Evans booted his fifth successful penalty.
French official Garces was keen to make his mark on the match and he punished Connacht for hands in a scrum with time running out.
Evans landed the resulting kick to take his personal haul to 20 points and make sure Connacht’s night ended on a disappointing note.
Speaking afterwards, Elwood said it was hugely important that his players regroup quickly and back this performance up at home to French giants Toulouse next weekend.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow. The most frustrating and disappointing thing is that for all the effort, endeavour, commitment and hard work we have actually come away from the Stoop with nothing,” he said.
“The game was in the balance at 19-17 when we had a crucial scrum and you think you have a chance so we’ve a disappointed changing room.
“Gav’s in tears after this defeat, it’s tough to take. Obviously there’s the connection with Harlequins and he’s hurting pretty badly.”
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