European Challenge Cup/Cetransa El Salvador 0 Connacht 60:Connacht cruised to the necessary bonus-point victory over Cetransa El Salvador yesterday, taking no risks of a slip-up in their challenge for European qualification.
Having been dealt a favour by Pool Three leaders Newcastle, who overcame Brive in France, Connacht closed the gap on the French side to just two points, to produce a winner-takes-all clash when the two meet in the final round in Galway.
A victory for either side would ensure one of the three best runners-up spots in the quarter-finals with the Falcons on course to top the group.
Thus yesterday's first visit to Spain panned out as expected. Connacht had bagged the bonus point by the 48th minute and thereafter they waltzed home with a nine-try tally over the Spanish champions at Campo de Pepe Rojo.
In ideal dry conditions, Connacht once again demonstrated the gulf in class between full-time professionals and El Salvador's part-timers, who boasted some seven internationals. Unbeaten in their domestic championship, El Salvador played with honest endeavour and plenty of heart in an attempt to open their European account. But outside one penalty chance in the opening half, which left wing Raul Terrion missed, they never threatened to get points on the board.
Connacht's need was greater, and after outhalf Andy Dunne settled his side with a third-minute penalty, Michael Bradley's side went in search of their four-try bonus.
It was not as clinical in the opening half as Bradley might have liked, but they were well on their way by half-time having run in three tries to open a 22-0 lead.
The first try arrived after eight minutes from Michael Swift's lineout catch and drive before Connacht put the ball through the backline with Darren Yapp supplying Daniel Riordan from an inside line.
After a somewhat scrappy build-up, flanker Ray Ofisa laid the platform for the second with a barn-storming breakfrom halfway which Aidan Wynne completed on 23 minutes. And although Connacht made more than their usual share of handling errors, the third try arrived after El Salvador conceded yet another penalty with number eight Colm Rigney claiming the touchdown from Andrew Farley's lineout catch and drive.
Having finished the half with a comfortable 22-0 lead, Connacht drove home their all-round advantage eight minutes into the second half when Dunne supplied replacement scrumhalf Conor McPhillips five metres out.
It was game over after that as El Salvador's challenge petered out and the 3,000 fans were treated to a try-scoring feast from the Irish visitors. Five tries completed the showcase. Flanker Ray Ofisa deservedly got in for a try after replacement outhalf Tim Donnelly had sidestepped the defence, which was also converted by Liam Bibo, making his first start for the province.
Seven minutes later replacement flanker Johnny O'Connor made it look all too easy when grabbing the sixth, while Gavin Duffy cut through the defence before finding Daniel Riordan with a long pass to bring the scoring to 50.
Riordan completed his hat-trick after McPhillips had capitalised on turnover ball from Wynne's covering tackle, for his second try.
Connacht will not have it so easy on Friday.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 3 mins: Dunne penalty 3-0; 8: Riordan try, Dunne conversion 0-10; 23: Wynne try 0-15; 32: Rigney try, Dunne conversion 0-22. Half time: 0-22. 48: McPhillips try, Dunne conversion 0-29; 59: Ofisa try, Bibo conversion 0-36; 66: O'Connor try, Bibo conversion 0-43; 69: Riordan try, Bibo conversion 0-50; 73: McPhillips try 0-55; 79: Riordan try 0-60.
Yellow Cards: El Salvador, J Revilla (13m), R Van Eyk (55m); Connacht, M McCarthy (55m).
CONNACHT: G Duffy; D Yapp, D Riordan, M Deane, A Wynne; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty, R Morris, M Swift, A Farley (capt), M McCarthy, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: L Bibo for Yapp, C McPhillips for O'Loughlin (half-time), D Gannon for Rigney (46 mins), T Donnelly for Dunne (49m), R Loughney for Morris (52m), J O'Connor for Ofisa (65m), R Morris for Fogarty (71m). A Flavin, R Loughney, D Gannon, J O'Connor, C McPhillips, T Donnelly, L Bibo.
CETRANSA EL SALVADOR: M Stanley; T Brouwer, J Revilla, R Van Eyk, L Gascon; A Gutierrez, D Hunter; I Insausti, D Marron, M Serrano, S Souto, O Benito, F Galloppa, J Molina, I Criado (capt). Replacements: E Fernandez for Stanley (46m), C Caballerio for Insausti (54m), J Zapatero for Marron (60m), I Gutierrez for Van Eyk (75m).
Referee: G Garner (England).
