Hansen double helps Connacht thump Scarlets
URC REPORT: 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 United Rugby Championship season, finishing strongly with a penalty try and Hansen’s second score.
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.
In the second half, Connacht replacement prop Jack Aungier barged over for his third try of the season and 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.
The visitors also endured a rocky start, Murray charging down a Kieran Hardy box kick to touch down with just 26 seconds on the clock.
Connacht captain Carty, who missed the conversion, traded penalties with Costelow. The Scarlets made it 8-8 in the 14th minute, Evans finishing an opportunist try amid a heavy rain shower.
Thomas, a loan signing for the Scarlets from Bristol, 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 pass to edge Connacht back in front.
Thomas prevented another try on the stroke of half-time, and although Connacht number eight Paul 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 the Scarlets’ last opportunity from the tee.
Connacht’s maul forced the penalty try in the 73rd minute, sandwiched between yellows for Kalamafoni and Thomas. Four minutes later, a deft Carty kick from halfway saw Hansen get the TMO decision to turn a late breakout into five more points.
Player of the Match
Scarlets captain Jonathan Davies had a big shift defensively, but the visitors were consistently outworked by Connacht.
While Murray and Hawkshaw, who carried well in midfield, stood out, it was tireless flanker Conor Oliver who was chosen for the individual honour. His work in contact was very good throughout.
Play of the match
A prolonged bout of kick tennis ended with the Scarlets stinging Connacht with a crisply-taken first-half try.
A loose kick from Hansen was run back with interest by Johnny McNicholl, who easily jinked past Hansen and cut inside Carty before sending Evans over from the edge of the hosts' 22.
The scorers:
For Connacht:
Tries: Hansen 2, Murray, Aungier, Penalty Try
Pens: Carty 2, Hawkshaw
For Scarlets:
Try: Evans
Pens: Costelow 2, Patchell
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 Byron Ralston, 12 David Hawkshaw, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Leva Fifita, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 Alex Wootton.
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Steff Evans, 12 Jonathan Davies (captain), 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Josh Macleod, 5 Tom Price, 4 Jac Price, 3 Harri O’Connor, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Steff Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Iwan Shenton, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Corey Baldwin.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferriera (South Africa), Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)