European Challenge Cup Semi-final, second leg/Sale 59 Connacht - 9: Connacht missed out on the goal of European Cup rugby next season when they were overwhelmed and outclassed on a day perfect for the explosive talents of Sale.
The result, a depressing 50-point loss and the worst of the season, did little to reflect the province's competitiveness. Instead it was a reminder that, having come so far in the last two years under Michael Bradley, the under-resourced province will always find it hard to reach their ultimate goal against a side brimming with international class: some 13 in the starting line-up and four recently-selected Lions.
Phillipe Saint Andre could satisfyingly reflect on his side's "ruthless" assault. Connacht's Bradley, struggling to put a positive spin on the result, said the province knew before going out that everything had to go their way. It didn't. Instead, the nightmare scenario Connacht had hoped would never happen was realised.
"Sale's class showed out there today," said Bradley. "We were simply not good enough. It's not individual players but how a team performs," he reflected.
"We have gone out and performed competitively all season and we did well in the first leg at the Sportsground, but we knew that if we were to win today, we needed everything to go our way and it just did not happen.
"Certainly we were in contention in the first half, but we needed to put constant pressure on Sale and we didn't."
Bradley believed a crucial turning point was the sinbinning of Christian Short after 30 minutes when the sides were level at 6-6.
"When Short was sinbinned, Sale sensed they had an opportunity and they drove it home in the next 10 minutes."
Having traded favourably until then, Connacht were stunned as Sale cut loose with three tries before the break to lead 31-9.
Paul Warwick had opened the scoring after five minutes when Jason Robinson was caught in possession - the first of two occasions from which Connacht would profit - but Charlie Hodgson replied each time.
After the sinbinning, first Hodgson, then Andy Titterell and finally wing Steve Hanley, following an intercept of Michael Swift's pass, crossed to hammer home their advantage.
Mark Cueto, smarting from his omission from the Lions, had a point to prove and the right wing went on to claim a second-half hat-trick of tries.
After the interval it was a stroll in the Stockport sun for the Sharks. Cueto struck with two tries, including a bizarre effort at the death despite a blatant knock forward from Chris Jones 30 metres out, while Jason White scored from a forward drive.
Bradley, looking back on a season in which Connacht had remained in contention in both Challenge Cup and Celtic League to the end, paid a final tribute to Eric Elwood, who made his last appearance for the province as a second-half replacement for Mark McHugh.
"That Connacht are competing at all in this semi-final is testament to Eric Elwood," said Bradley. "A couple of years ago we were under pressure and Eric Elwood has single-handedly as a player kept the flag flying."
SCORING SEQUENCE: 5 mins: Warwick pen 0-3; 7: Hodgson pen 3-3; 10: Warwick pen 3-6; 16: Hodgson pen 6-6; 28: Hodgson try 11-6; 33: Robinson drop goal 14-6; 36: McHugh pen 14-9; 38: Titterell try, Hodgson con 21-9; 40: Hodgson pen 24-9; 40: Hanley try, Hodgson con 31-9. 43: Cueto try, Hodgson con 38-9; 49: Cueto try, Hodgson con 45-9; 58: White try, Hodgson con 52-9; 77: Cueto try, Hodgson con 59-9.
SALE SHARKS: J Robinson; M Cueto, J Baxendall, R Todd, S Hanley; C Hodgson, B Redpath; A Sheridan, A Titterell, B Coutts, I Fernandez Lobbe, D Schofield, J White, C Jones, S Chabal. Replacements: B Stewart for Coutts (34 mins), Coutts for Sheridan (half-time), M Lund for Chabal (57 mins), P Anglesea for Schofield (55 mins), R Wigglesworth for Hodgson (65 mins), C Rhys Jones for Todd (65 mins), S Martens for Redpath (65 mins), S Bruno for Titterell (68 mins).
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, M McHugh, J Downey, T Robinson; P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley, M Swift, B O'Connor, M O'Sullivan. Replacements: E Elwood for McHugh, D Slemen for Robinson (54 mins), M Walls for Keane (57 mins), S Knoop for Bracken, M Carroll for O'Sullivan, P Neville for Swift (all 70 mins).
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland).
