More away agony for Bradley’s boys

Date Published: 27-Oct-2009

CONNACHT’S hopes of building on their shock European win against Montpellier the previous weekend were dashed despite a spirited second half display as Glasgow Warriors registered a four try bonus point win in the Magners League tie at Firhill on Friday night.

Michael Bradley’s men looked to be in dire trouble minutes before half-time, when the home side’s third try gave the Warriors – buoyed by the return to action of Max Evans and young lock Richie Gray – a 24-12 lead.

But Fionn Carr, who has enjoyed a phenomenal try scoring record of late, ran in from 40 metres to put the visitors within seven points of Glasgow on 69 minutes, giving Connacht a glimmer of
hope until Thom Evans grabbed his second try three minutes later.

It took Evans just three minutes to open the home side’s account, set up by Scottish international Chris Cusiter and Dan Parks, with Parks converting to open up a 7-0 lead. Connacht struggled at the break-down despite a timely drop-goal from out-half Ian Keatley from their first raid into the home side’s territory.

A Parks penalty, after he had missed two early efforts, made it 10-3, but Keatley found the range again to reduce the deficit to four points before Johnnie Beattie sprang from the back and pounced over the line. Parks was accurate again with the conversion, to make it 17-6.

Cusiter and Parks set up Thom Evans, who broke through the Connacht rearguard again, and with Parks adding the extras it looked ominous for the visitors at 24- 6. But Keatley narrowed the gap with two further penalties.

Connacht improved immensely after the break, despite a yellow card for Andrew Browne, and Carr’s
try gave them some hope that they might even stage a recovery before Evans registered the fourth try for the home side.