Connacht are up to fifth in the United Rugby Championship heading into the November break after a 31-7 bonus-point win over Dragons in Dexcom Stadium on Saturday night.
Three tries in the first half from back row Paul Boyle, scrum-half Caolan Blade and Cian Prendergast, two of them converted by Cathal Forde, sent Connacht in 19-0 ahead at the break, but they had to wait until the final minutes of the game to secure the bonus point through Cathal Forde. The only negative for Connacht in the opening quarter was the loss of winger Shayne Bolton to injury. Dragons, above only Zebre in the table, got on the scoreboard with three minutes remaining when Taine Basham went over from close range.
After the game, Galway Bay FM commentator Rob Murphy spoke to Connacht Coach Pete Wilkins...
Rob also spoke to Connacht flanker Sean O'Brien...
Connacht: O’Conor; Bolton, Forde, Aki, Cordero; Ioane, Blade; Dooley, Tierney-Martin, Bealham; Joyce, Murray; Prendergast (capt), O’Brien, Boyle. Replacements: De Buitlear, Buckley, Aungier, Murray, Jansen, Devine, Ralston, Gavin.
Dragons: Evans; Dyer, Westwood, Owen, Ewan Rosser; O’Brien, Blacker; Jones, Burrows, Coleman; Carter (capt), Screech; Lewis-Hughes, Keddie, Wainwright. Replacements: Coghlan, Seiuli, Yendle, Cummins, Basham, Williams, Evans, Wilson.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
