Strong Finish Seals Five-Try Victory For Connacht

Mack Hansen hunted down a Jack Carty kick for Connacht’s fifth and final try in a runaway 36-14 victory over the Scarlets at the Sportsground.

Andy Friend’s men picked up their first bonus point of the BKT United Rugby Championship, finishing strongly with a penalty try and Hansen’s second score of the night.

It was a much more clinical performance from the westerners who have moved up two places to 13th ahead of their final game of the first block, a trip to the Ospreys next Saturday.

Adding to Niall Murray’s first-minute opener, Hansen touched down to give Connacht a 16-11 interval lead. Steff Evans crossed for the Scarlets while Jack Carty and Sam Costelow kicked two penalties each.

Into the second half, Connacht replacement prop Jack Aungier barged over for his third try of the season and influential centre David Hawkshaw also split the posts.

The Scarlets struggled for the remainder, replacement Rhys Patchell kicking their only points and Sione Kalamafoni and Dan Thomas were both sin-binned late on.

While Murray and Hawkshaw, who consistently carried well in midfield, stood out, it was tireless flanker Conor Oliver who was chosen as the URC player-of-the-match. His work in contact was very good throughout.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Connacht director of rugby Andy Friend said: “There was relief in the coaching box and no doubt among the players that the result went our way as it was a good win in terms of what we needed.

“However we still have more in us. There are areas we can tidy up. You look at our discipline there tonight, too many penalties were conceded by us. What’s happening is that so many guys want to make a difference.

“They’re getting drawn into things they don’t need to attend to. That’s one thing. But others have been positive.

“Across the last three weeks, our defence has been brilliant – three tries in three weeks against good teams such as the Scarlets, Munster and Leinster. I know they want to be the team that makes the difference. It is really important to kick on from that win.

“We know our lineout, our scrum, our physicality in defence has been good but we still need to be more accurate in attack, we still have a lot of work to do but that will help us kick on. That result, however, will help us find the confidence, trust and belief.”

The Scarlets endured a rocky start, second row Murray charging down a Kieran Hardy box kick to touch down with just 26 seconds on the clock.

It was Connacht’s fastest ever try in United Rugby Championship history, eclipsing the previous quickest one scored by Danie Poolman after 30 seconds against Edinburgh back in 2013.

Connacht captain Carty, who missed the conversion, traded penalties with Costelow, before the Scarlets made it eight-all in the 14th minute.

Returning centre Evans finished an opportunist try started by Johnny McNicholl’s jinking counter-attacking run, which saw him get past both Hansen and Carty, amid a heavy rain shower.

Dan Thomas, a loan signing for Scarlets from Bristol Bears, had a busy first half. He impressed at the breakdown but also conceded some penalties. Carty missed the target, though, and Connacht’s maul was whistled up for obstruction.

Carty and Costelow exchanged kicks again on the half hour mark, before Ireland international Hansen finished neatly from a long Carty skip pass to edge Connacht back in front.

The home pack laid the groundwork with some muscular carrying, number 8 Paul Boyle in particular making the hard yards as the Scarlets were driven back right to their own posts.

Thomas prevented another try on the stroke of half-time – with Hansen and John Porch’s pace causing problems for the Welsh outfit – and although Boyle saw yellow for upending Tom Price at a ruck, the home side struck again in the 53rd minute.

Aungier had Murray on the latch as he piled over out wide. Patchell and Hawkshaw exchanged penalties, making it 24-14 before the former missed Scarlets’ last opportunity from the tee.

Connacht’s reliable lineout, coupled with two well-directed drives with replacement Dylan Tierney-Martin in control, forced the penalty try in the 73rd minute, either side of yellows for Kalamafoni and Thomas.

Number 8 Kalamafoni was binned for side-entry at the first maul, as referee Marius van der Westhuizen lost patience with the amount of penalties in try-scoring range. Thomas infringed at the next one, resulting in the penalty try.

Four minutes later, Connacht raided downfield from turnover ball. A deft Carty kick from halfway saw Hansen get the TMO decision to turn a late breakout into five more points.

It was a close call as it was a footrace between Hansen and McNicholl after the Connacht winger had dribbled the ball on. Both players dived for the ball and Marius Jonker’s review went the way of the westerners.