Connacht snatched a deserved victory to overcome Italian hosts Benetton at the death in their second round of the URC.
With the clock counting down and Connacht behind, they staged the perfect last stand - Shane Jennings, Eoin de Butlier and finally Ciaran Frawley delivered the try to seal victory against a gritty home outfit.
Benetton were leading 19-17 going into the final minutes, but Connacht produced that final attack to ensure they bagged a second win and move up the URC table
Connacht, having stuttered against the Stormers in the opening fixture at Dexcom by 15-29, needed to get something out of this visit to Italy, and they delivered by the skin of their teeth.
In what became a dogfight between these two sides, Connacht dug the deeper in the final quarter and delivered with that vital try three minutes from full-time. Somehow, despite have conceded a penalty to the hosts, they wrested possession and made it count.
“Very pleased we won,” says head coach Stuart Lancaster. “It must have been 13-3 to come here and win took a great mindset from the players, but there’s lot to do next week to improve.
“Any way game is huge, we missed a point last week, so any win away from home is pleasing and to get the bonus point even more so, but obviously all roads now return now to Glasgow, We play a champion team next week.|
Undoubtedly a tough match for Connacht away from home, and with a yellow card, Lancaster’s men delivered at the death.
“A tough match,” says captain Cian Prendergast. “The last 10 minutes was as great fight from the boys. We stayed in the fight, and to get a win away from home is always good to get our season going. “We know how good Benetton is, so delighted with the win, but there is plenty to work on.”
Certainly the Italians will not be happy having let slip home advantage in the final minutes, having been in control for long periods and
boosted with some 13 internationals in the starting line-up, with another five on the bench.
They had come into this home contest with victory at the top of the agenda, and Stuart Lancaster’s side, although brimming with potential, needed to produce their best.
Benetton, strong at set piece, particularly line-out and scrum, dominated those key areas, helped by some 13 internationals in their line-up. And, having drawn with the Dragons on opening night, they were keen to make home advantage count, boosted by some 13 internationals in their starting XV
Yet Connacht led 12 -17 at the break courtesy of tries from Cian Prendergast, Sean O’Brien and Ciaran Frawley, with the home side countering with two of their own through hooker Bautista Bernascroni and Leonardo Marion.
Stuart Lancaster’s men enjoyed the best start and were immediately out of the blocks with the opening try after just four minutes. It came via a penalty to touch from Frawley, and with Sean Jansen making some hard yards, he found captain Cian Prendergast, who did well to swivel out of an attempted tackle to touch down out wide, the conversion wide.
The home side, however, starting asking questions of their visitors and responded with a try of their own. It came via two penalties to touch, the big Benetton locks enjoying possession and driving forward before flanker Guilo Marini found hooker Bernasconi who was able make it count to level the points.
However, Connacht delivered a second after 16 minutes - a superb try claimed by Sean O’Brien with the help of Sam Gilbert, Mack Hansen, Ciaran Frawley and Sean Jansen who were all involved in the build-up.
The hosts carved their chances, particularly through their scrum but poor execution and strong defence from the visitors kept them at bay on two occasions before they eventually scored a try after 33 minutes. It was well deserved with centreLeonardo Marin crossing and Jacob Umaga adding the extras for a 12-10 lead. However, within minutes Connacht had not only taken control but added another try - Caolin Blade delivering to Frawley tho showed composure and strength to score in the green of Connacht, with Gilbert adding the extras for a 12-17 lead.
A Finlay Bealham yellow card gave the home side added momentum, but handling errors proved costly, despite their solid scrum. However the domination of the home side’s set piece began to have its effect, and by the 50th minute they capitalised on a penalty, and made it count when hooker Bautista Bernasconi bagged a try from a dominant drive. Umaga convertered to put them into a 19-17 lead.
Paul Boyle and Ciaran Frawley were key in defence, and it took a huge effort to deny the home side from scoring again before Conancht grabbed possession in the latter minutes. Eventually they made the breakthrough - Shane Jennings and de Buitler were instrumental before Frawley, on his Connacht debut, produced the 77th minute try that sealed the game and an important away win for Lancaster’s squad.
Sinbin: Bealham (40-50 mins ).
Scoring sequence: 4 mins: Prendergast try 0-5; 12: Bernasconi try 5-5; 16: O’Brien try 5-10; 35: Marin try, Umaga con 12-10; 38: Frawley try, Gilbert con 12-17; HT: 12-17; 5 mins Bernasconi try, Umaga con 19-17;
Benetton: M Gallagher, L Lynagh, P Odogwu, L Marin, O Ratave, J Umaga, A Garbisi: M Medrano, B Bernasconi, S Ferrari, N Cannone, F Ruzza, G Marini, M Lamaro (capt ), R Favretto. Replacements: J Smith for Odogwu (34 ), M Spagnolo for Medrano (53m ), T Pasquali for Ferrari (56m ), S Maile for Bernasconi (60m ), Ignacio Mendy for Otave (65m ), Sootala Fa’aso’o for Marini, Andy Uren for Garbisi (71m ).
Connacht: S Gilbert, F Treacy, J Devine, C Forde, M Hansen, C Frawley, C Blade, F van Wyk, M Victory, F Bealham, D Murray, J Murphy, C Prendergast (capt ), S O’Brien, DS Jansen.Replacements: E de Buitlear for Victory, B Bohan for van Wyk (both 51m ), S Illo for Treacy (40-50m ) and for Bealham (51m ), Paul Boyle for O’Brien (55m ), Niall Murray for Murphy (60m ), Colm Reilly for Blade, Josh Ioane for Devine (both 71m ), Shane Jennings for Treacy (75m ).
Referee: Hollie Davidson
