Connacht come a cropper after making bright start in Salford

Sale 34

Connacht 13

Rob Murphy at the AJ Bell Stadium

AT the full time whistle, Connacht were well beaten in Salford on Saturday afternoon. They had plenty to ponder, a second half whitewash, a heavy penalty count to go with it and some hard questions as to how a seven point lead just before half time turned into such a one-sided final score. Sale had found their form after the restart and blitzed the hosts with three quick tries to move well clear at the top of the pool.

And despite all that, there was a positive for Andy Friend to glean from the clash on a sunny afternoon on the outskirts of Manchester. For a second week in succession, the Connacht Head Coach used this competition to give some invaluable game time to his academy players. It might be much further down the line when the benefits of such a move become clear but this was a starting point for a number of them.

The full time whistle saw friends and family of former An Gaeltacht star Colm Di Buitler, Shannon youngster Conor Fitzgerald and Ballinrobe’s Matthew Burke meet the newly capped heroes for photos and conversations. The players themselves were disappointed with the outcome but no doubt energised by the progress they were making in their individual careers.

Di Buitler was a ball of energy on the wing throughout and strong in defence. Fitzgerald at out half took on the huge task with gusto making an early line break that set up the first three points and kicking two penalties and a touchline conversion. Burke meanwhile came on in the second half at looshead with newly converted tighthead Conan O’Donnell and never took a backward step.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and  county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.