After a sensational performance in Bayonne on Saturday night Connacht picked up their first win in ten games with fully deserved 35-21 victory.
A first half penalty try made by Brian Tuohy and a simply brilliant try midway through the second half which started with a Frank Murphy’s intercept at the base of a scrum followed by an off load in the tackle to Sean Cronin who burst clear down the wing and released Tuohy inside for the score.
That came at a tense point in the game with eight minutes remaining and Connacht holding onto a 25-21 lead. The home side had come into the game expecting a comfortable win having picked a full strenght side to get the points and maintain their push for qualification but that score underlined a hugely frustrating night for the Basque side.
Connacht clearly thrived in a contest where they had nothing to lose, out of the competition and totally written off, they went at it with all their energy in search of a morale boosting result.
They got it and then some with Fionn Carr rounding off the evening with a an intercept try for the visitors who had three tries to Bayonne’s one.
Next week’s Prato game should allow them to make it back to back wins going into the two week break before a run of crucial Magners League games begins with Glasgow, Dragons and Treviso all within reach in the table, this season might well finish on a significant high note.
Connacht:
15. Fionn Carr, 14. Shane Monahan, 13. Eoin Griffin, 12. Niva Ta'auso, 11. Brian Tuohy, 10. Ian Keatley, 9. Frank Murphy, 1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Jamie Hagan, 4. Bernie Upton, 5. Mike McCarthy, 6. Andrew Browne, 7. Jonny O'Connor, 8. Mike McComish,.
Replacements:
16. Adrian Flavin, 17. Rodney Ah You, 18. Ronan Loughney, 19. Shane Connelly, 20. Michael Swift, 21. Cillian Willis, 22. Keith Matthews, 23. Miah Nikora
Bayonne:
15. Pepito Elhorga, 14. Garth Ziegler, 13. Thibault Lacroix, 12. Sebastien Fauque, 11. Johnan Pietersen, 10. Benjamin Boyet, 9. Julien Audy, 1. Tonga Lea'aetoa, 2. Arnaud Heguy, 3. Denis Avril, 4. Robin Linde, 5. Cameron Treloar, 6. Guillaume Bernad, 7. Dwayne Haare, 8. Marc Baget.
Replacements:
16. Francois Da Ros, 17. Pierre Philippe Lafond, 18. Walter Desmaison, 19. Ross Filipo, 20. Jean-Jo Marmouyet, 21. Francois Carillo, 22. Cedric Garcia, 23. Sam Gerber