Hat-trick of tries for in-form Blade as Connacht revive play-off ambitions

Connacht 43

Lions 24

By JOHN FALLON at the Sportsground

CONNACHT captain Jack Carty said it’s an honour to become the province’s all-time top scorer but the most important thing is that they keep chalking up the wins heading into the business end of the season in the URC and Challenge Cup.

His tally of 13 points in their 43-24 win at the Sportsground on Saturday over the Lions saw him surpass Eric Elwood’s record haul of 1,152 on a night when Caolin Blade became the third Connacht player in a row to notch a hat-trick.

“This place means so much to me, so it’s great to get it but it’s probably something that I will look back on when I finish my career and will be something I will be proud of,” said Carty.

“It probably should have happened much earlier in the season, but I had the yips for a couple of games so it was nice to kind of get over that hump and this win.

“I think last year we peaked around Christmas time but I think we are wrapping up nicely this season. I think lads are looking forward to a couple of weeks off and we will go from there again,” said Carty.

Connacht Director of Rugby Andy Friend praised Carty for reaching the scoring milestone but stressed there is plenty more to come from his captain.

“The captaincy can be a heavy load for some players but Jack seems to take that on in his stride and he has really grown into that role. To take that scoring record of the great Eric Elwood is no small feat but he has a lot more points to come too. He’s only a young man and if keeps kicking the way he was tonight and attacking the line, he will score a lot more points too,” said Friend.

He knew Connacht needed to lay down an early marker after their disjointed display away to Newcastle Falcons in the Challenge Cup and they duly delivered with a multi-phase move being finished in some style by the pace of winger Diarmuid Kilgallen after just three minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

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.