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Timely boost for Connacht ahead of Challenge Cup tie

Celtic League/Borders - 9 Connacht - 11: Connacht secured their first away Celtic League win of the season when they held out…

Linley MacKenzie at Netherdale
Sat Mar 25 2006 - 00:00

Celtic League/Borders - 9 Connacht - 11: Connacht secured their first away Celtic League win of the season when they held out in a scoreless second half against the Border Reivers last night.

Connacht deservedly picked up their fourth win of the league and provided an important boost ahead of next Friday's European Challenge Cup quarter-final with Newcastle.

David Slemen opened the scoring for the visitors after eight minutes from a 10-metre penalty.

The Borders, however, then enjoyed a period of dominance with centre Calum MacRae kicking a 25-metre penalty after Connacht strayed offside. And when outhalf Gregor Towsend opted for a drop goal, it put the home side into a 6-3 lead.

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Connacht hit back with a try on 31 minutes when Mark McHugh secured posssession from Chris Keane's clever kick. Although he was caught by Nikki Walker just metres from the line, the Connacht cavalry arrived in time, before flanker John Muldoon muscled his way over the line.

Connacht then secured a penalty in front of the posts, but on the stroke of half-time replacement centre James King flattered his side with a 38-metre penalty - to leave the home side behind by two points 9-11.

The Irish province continued to press after the break, until two penalties in quick succession presented the Reivers with one last attack. Luckily, Connacht snuffed it out.

SCORING SEQUENCE - 8 min: Slemen pen 0-3; 24: MacRae pen 3-3; 27: Townsend d-g 6-3; 31: Muldoon try 6-8; 40+3: Slemen pen 6-11; 40+6: King pen 9-11. Half-time: 9-11. Full-time: 9-11.

BORDERS: Moffat, Danielli, MacDougall, MacRae, Walker, Townsend, McKearchar, Thomson, Scott, Douglas, MacLeod, Palepoi, Brown, Sititi, Miller. Replacements: Gray for Danielli (55), Weston for McKearchar (60), McGee for Thomson (70), Dalziel for Sititi (60).

CONNACHT: M Mostyn, D Yapp, A Mailei, M McHugh, C McPhillips, M Slemen, C Keane, R Hogan, J Fogarty, A Clarke, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, C Rigney, M Lacey.Replacements: M Williams for Yapp (34), P Warwick for Slemen (40), J Merrigan for Fogarty (55), S Knoop for Clarke (55).

Referee: J Jones (RFU).