Cardiff 3 Connacht 6
Connacht completed an Irish Celtic League clean sweep this afternoon with a shock win victory over Cardiff on a dreary afternoon at the Arms Park.
Cardiff took a third-minute lead with a penalty from Nick Robinson, cancelled out by a penalty from the boot of Eric Elwood, the only scores of a disappointing and bad-tempered first half.
After sporadic punch-ups involving the front rows it was scrum halves Ryan Powell and Chris Keane who eventually saw the yellow card shortly before the interval, followed by Connacht prop Dan McFarland for stamping.
Cardiff brought on three substitutes early in the second half but it was Connacht who broke the deadlock with another Elwood penalty, 16 minutes into the second period.
Despite coming under severe Cardiff pressure in the closing stages, a resolute Connacht defence held firm and the visitors came away with a memorable victory.
The win caps off a terrific opening round for the Irish teams, with Leinster, Munster and Ulster all winning last night.
In this afternoon’s other Celtic League game, Neath brushed aside Caerphilly by 43 points to 13.