Connacht give Dragons a lesson
MATCH REPORT: Connacht were just too good for the Dragons as they recorded a 31-7 win in the United Rugby Championship.
First-half tries from Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade and Cian Prendergast put the home side in total control in Galway.
Connacht had won their last eleven URC fixtures against Welsh teams and held the Men of Gwent at bay before Cathal Forde wrapped up the bonus with six minutes remaining.
Replacement Basham ensured Dragons had something to show from the fixture but the final act went to Matthew Devine as he crossed with the final play.
Both teams were forced into late changes with Brodie Coghlan in for the ill Oli Burrows for Dragons while Connacht lost playmaker Jack Carty just prior to kick-off.
It was the hosts that settled the quicker on a fast artificial track and who opened the scoring on six minutes when Boyle crashed over after a series of powerful forward carries.
Dragons looked to hit back with the hard-working Aneurin Owen breaking a tackle before Ewan Rosser threatened out wide.
Instead, it was Connacht who added to their lead when wing Shayne Bolton broke down the right wing and when play was fed back inside it was Bundee Aki who powered on and released Blade to score.
Dragons looked to punch holes in a well-drilled home defence, but they were being repelled and suffered a late sucker punch on the stroke of half-time when Prendergast broke a tackle to burst in.
The Men of Gwent enjoyed territory at the start of the second period, but time and again they returned empty handed as Connacht held firm under pressure.
The hosts wrapped up the extra point six minutes from time when Devine rode two tackles and sent Forde under the posts.
Flanagan’s men did have something to show for their efforts when Basham showed his power to roll out of tackles and over the whitewash with two minutes left.
But the final word went to livewire scrum half replacement Devine as he scampered down the left wing to dot down with the final play.
The scorers:
For Connacht:
Tries: Boyle, Blade, Predergast, Forde, Devine
Cons: Forde 3
For Dragons:
Try: Basham
Con: O'Brien
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Sean O’Brien, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Niall Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Hugh Gavin.
Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Ewan Rosser, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Harri Keddie, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Ben Carter (captain), 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Oli Burrows, 1 Cameron Jones.
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Luke Yendle, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Taine Basham, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Harry Wilson.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Dan Carson (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Source: @dragonsrfc