Connacht 42
Bayonne 19
CONNACHT BROUGHT THEIR unbeaten home run to a seventh game on another night of feelgood rugby at the Sportsground.
Two tries from Danie Poolman gave the hosts a half-time advantage of 15 – 12. And although Bayonne would start the second half even better than they did the first, the assured kicking of Jack Carty and a breakaway try from Bundee Aki allowed them to open up a lead going in to the final quarter.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
Three penalties from Martin Bustos Moyano sent the visitors into an early 9 – 3 lead before Poolman crossed for the opening try after 20 minutes.
While Rodney Ah You came under pressure at times in the scrum, the line-out consistently looked like a useful weapon for Pat Lam’s side. it was on the back of one such rolling maul that Poolman was unleashed on a scything run to the try-line.
Carty’s conversion would nudge the home side in front for the first time, but Bayonne were able to pick off another opportunity after 28 minutes.
On the stroke of half-time however, another powerful maul was the basis for a sweeping back-line move with Carty and Aki involved before Poolman crossed for his second.
Source: James Crombie/INPHO
Though Carty was unable to add the conversion, he was on target again 13 minutes into the second half after Florian Lapeyrde’s try had pushed the visitors in to a four-point lead.
Whether trailing 15 – 19 or 18 -19, Connacht did not panic and Carty calmly stroked his side into the lead after 59 minutes following Lapeyrade was sin-binned.