Connacht fail to fire in disappointing loss to fired-up Italians

Date Published: 28-Mar-2011

Aironi 25

Connacht 13

CONNACHT lost only their second game in eight Magners League outings on Saturday, but the defeat and the performance in their clash away to Aironi will be a concern to all as they head into the final four games of the season looking to secure a highest ever finish.

Aironi ended a 17 game wait for a League victory in fine style, playing an expansive and attacking running game against their visitors and inflicting what was Connacht’s third defeat on Italian soil this season, adding to the Challenge Cup defeat to Prato and the League loss to Treviso.

The failure to garner even a bonus point will rankle but they will also be aware that the performance just wasn’t up to the standard needed to take points on their travels – something they have mastered pretty well this season.

Wingers Kaine Robertson and Danwel Demas both scored their first tries in the competition as the home side adopted a strong running game that cause Connacht trouble. The third try came from South African flanker Gareth Krause who crossed for his second of the campaign.

Connacht’s try came from Ray Ofisa and while the return from long term injury of captain John Muldoon, in the closing stages is a bonus, the overall feeling will be somewhat gloomy this week.

The game was played in Viadana where the franchise is based now and, in a town with a rich rugby tradition, Aironi seized the initiative on a warm Saturday afternoon and early pressure yielded a seventh minute try for Rowland Phillips’ men. Robertson put boot to ball after a stray pass from Gavin Duffy and dotted down for Tito Tebaldi to convert.

Connacht settled and Ian Keatley replied with an 11th minute penalty, before Tebaldi drew a penalty attempt across the posts five minutes later. However the lead was up to 14-3 not long after when Demas kicked ahead along the line and Krause touched down for Aironi’s second converted try, with Brian Tuohy caught out by the bounce of the ball.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.