EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP Rovigo 20 Connacht 35: CONNACHT ARE looking for a maximum points return from their back-to-back European Challenge Cup fixtures with Italian side Rovigo.
Their bonus winning performance in Stadio Mario Battaglini on Saturday should ensure Connacht go into the return fixture at the Galway Sportsground on Friday night confident of bagging a third win from their four Pool One outings to date to keep on track for a qualification spot.
Anything other than a win in Rovigo would have spelt disaster for their European season, and importantly, their riposte to the recent loss to Ulster in the Magners League was critical for their confidence and ability to build some momentum before the Christmas interprovincials.
"We had high expectations going into the Ulster match so the lads felt under pressure to put the record right, get a win, and perform. The level of competition in the cup was different, but this week it was about doing our job, and finishing it, and from that perspective it was satisfying," said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.
Connacht marked the occasion of their second away fixture with a four-try tally that started as early as the second minute when lock Andrew Farley charged down an attempted clearance and hooker Seán Cronin had the legs to outpace Rovigo wing Juan Pablo Sanchez for the touchdown.
And although Rovigo did not roll over, the forwards gradually established their domination, particularly in the scrum, ensuring they were always on the front foot.
Their superior scrum paved the way for the the next two tries, either side of the break. Number eight Ray Ofisa started and finished the second, picking up from the base of wheeled scrum to evade the Rovigo backrow, before right wing Troy Nathan made the break from the Connacht halfway line. Ofisa, following up in support, finished off from 30 metres out.
The home side, with a handful of Argentinian and South African players in their ranks, relied on the boot of their outhalf German Bustos, who notched two first-half penalties, while Connacht's Ian Keatley was once again reliable, tagging on three penalties for a 21-6 half-time lead.
Keith Matthews, although injured, Nathan, and Ofisa continually threatened to take advantage of the opposition's weakness with some strong running, while Johnny O'Connor chipped in with some fine defence and support play. Within six minutes of the restart scrumhalf Frank Murphy had dived over from a quickly-taken penalty five metres out for the third try.
Rovigo, however, were stubborn and it took until the 73rd minute before Murphy again crossed the whitewash after penalties that had the Rovigo line under all sorts of pressure. The Italians were rewarded with two tries from sub hooker Luke Mahoney, but this match was more about Connacht's ability to grind out a result, regain some confidence, and keep their Euro hopes on track.
CONNACHT: F Carr; Troy Nathan, G Duffy (capt), K Matthews, D Riordan; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R J Morris, A Browne, A Farley, M McCarthy, J O'Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: D Gannon for Browne and A Flavin for Cronin (58 mins); H Hearty for Carr (71 mins); M Swift for Hearty, R Loughney for Morris, T Donnelly for Keatley, K Campbell for Murphy (all 75 mins).
ROVIGO: S Basson; P Calanchini, G Pizarro, N di Maura, JP Sanchez; G Bustos, JC Legora; B Fortuna, V Vicere, JP Orlandi, T Reato, M Barion, Y Anouer, J Britz, J Immelman. Replacements: L Mahoney for Vicere, D Tumiati for Barion, M Sclosa for Orlandi (all 50 mins); S Favaro for Anouer (61 mins); Orlandi for Fortuna (64 mins); S Canale for Legora (66 mins); N Badocchi for Immelman, S Ambrosio for Di Maura (67 mins).
Referee: JP Doyle(England).
