Connacht pipped at the death

Date Published: 09-Oct-2007

CONNACHT caught a glimpse of freedom on Friday night. They could almost touch it. This was their ticket to the next level, their chance to really establish themselves in mid table, to put distance between themselves and Ulster and to launch a serious Heineken Cup qualification bid.

However as they held on with dogged determination to their unlikely 15-13 lead in a frantic finale, a penalty for offside went against the men in green and up stepped Colin Gregor to tap over an injury time winner. The door was firmly shut on Connacht’s latest escape attempt.

Games like this encapsulate the world of Connacht rugby. Glasgow were missing ten of their World Cup stars — six on duty with Scotland — and they blew five opportunities for tries. Yet, after a terrible first half display, Connacht had established a foothold and thanks to the mercurial Tim Donnelly were turning half chances into points.

Still, they just didn’t get the job done. Sure it would have been hailed as robbery by the locals, but you don’t get anywhere in the world of professional rugby without the odd pick pocketing display here and there.

The problem for Connacht is…..