Connacht Rugby

2023 - 3 - 4

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Image courtesy of "RTE.ie"

Connacht hang on against 14-man Dragons (RTE.ie)

Connacht collected a valuable four points in their bid for a United Rugby Championship play-off spot as they edged out Dragons 22-20 to win at Rodney Parade ...

Dragons were still level at the interval and remarkably took the lead after the restart when Rosser intercepted a telegraphed pass to run 80 metres to score, with Reed slotting over the conversion before adding a penalty. First Max Clark was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate offside before TMO replays showed a high challenge from Screech on Conor Oliver, which resulted in a red card for the lock. Connacht collected a valuable four points in their bid for a BKT United Rugby Championship play-off spot as they edged out Dragons to win at Rodney Parade for the third time in a row.

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Image courtesy of "Irish Mirror"

Dragons 20-22 Connacht in the URC, result and recap (Irish Mirror)

Tonight Connacht faced an away tie vs Dragons as they continue their URC campaign. Things began slowly for both sides in what was a tense affair.

David Hawkshaw to start at 10, Tom Daly onto the bench wearing 22.— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) Dragons are mostly playing for pride with qualification for the knockout stages distinctly unlikely. Dragons make the most of a misplaced Connacht pass and Rosser sprints through for their second try of the night. Connacht have a try disallowed as it transpires the ball didn't actually touch the deck. Connacht had succesfully converted a penalty moments earlier thanks to David Hawkshaw. The Irish side lead by three points. Things are beginning to go south for Connacht here as Dragons further extend their lead thanks to a penalty from Reed. Dragon's have their work cut-out as they'll be a man light in the second-half. The Irish side need to start getting points on the board. The deficit is down to just three points. It was certainly a match for the purists as free-flowing Rugby was in short supply. At the break it was 10 points apiece with Dragons down to 14 men.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Connacht overcome Dragons resilience to win (BBC News)

The evening was made difficult for the Welsh region when Matthew Screech was sent off for a high tackle, though Jarred Rosser's try did make it 20-10. Connacht ...

A 50-22 from O'Brien set up the platform to attack, and a number of Dragons players came close to crossing before Hewitt found a small gap, but he was held up by two Connacht defenders. Now trailing 20-10, Connacht needed a response and got it when a Dragons scrum on their own five-metre line was hurled backwards and replacement number eight Jarrad Butler jumped on the ball and crossed. Despite being a man short it was Dragons who scored first in the second half, Rosser intercepted a risky pass from David Hawkshaw and raced 80m in to score. Connacht did score first though a Jack Carty penalty before the Dragons mustered up their first attack of note. The ball was recycled to Prendergast but the flanker could not gather the pass when a metre out and instead knocked it forward. It was always going to be a tough evening for the Dragons, who started the day one place off the bottom of the URC table while Connacht were seeking a third consecutive victory.

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Image courtesy of "The42"

Connacht back into top half after battling win over the Dragons in ... (The42)

Andy Howell reports from Rodney Parade. CONNACHT MOVED BACK into the top eight of the United Rugby Championship with a hard-fought victory over the Dragons ...

- Pens: Reed (2 from 2) Outside-half Will Reed converted to give Dragons a 7-3 advantage. - Cons: Reed (2 from 3)

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Image courtesy of "Irish Examiner"

Connacht cling on for nervy but vital victory in Wales (Irish Examiner)

Westerners hopes of making it to the knockout stages of the URC season stay on course after 22-20 win over the Dragons.

Reed (2). W Reed (2). That edged them 22-20 in front but winger Shayne Bolton was binned for a tackle in the air on O’Brien and that gave Dragons another foothold.

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Image courtesy of "Independent.ie"

Dave Heffernan try secures nervy win for Connacht against 14-man ... (Independent.ie)

Connacht held on for a priceless victory after a nerve-wrecking URC clash when they failed to make the most of an extra man for over half the game.

Pens: Reed (2). Cons: W Reed (2). Reed levelled with a penalty two minutes later before Dragons suffered a double-card blow.

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

URC: Connacht make lucky escape to beat spirited Dragons (The Irish Times)

Two missed drop-kicks from Dragons in the final minutes ensured Connacht escaped a real test in Newport with their top eight hopes still intact. A performance ...

The conversion put the home side into the lead by 17-10, before adding a penalty to stretch the lead to 20-10. With 13 minutes remaining, the homes had all the momentum, but Connacht did enough to stymie the home side, whose last-gasp drop goal effort was well wide. A performance Andy Friend’s men will want to forget, Connacht failed to utilise having two extra men on the pitch for most of the match, and were unable to deliver any real attacking prowess.

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Image courtesy of "South Wales Argus"

URC: Dragons suffer agonising 22-20 defeat to Connacht (South Wales Argus)

MATTHEW Screech was sent off as the Dragons suffered an agonising 22-20 loss to Connacht in the URC at Rodney Parade.

yet it was the Dragons that won the period 7-0. The Dragons, with their Six Nations trio back on the bench after pre-planned substitutions, were back under the pump when Connacht kicked a penalty to their 22 on the hour. Rhodri Williams stayed calm and flung a perfect pass to the right for Wainwright to finish with pace and power, Reed adding the extras for a 7-3 lead. Thankfully Connacht were not clinical with one wonky lineout after a penalty was kicked to the corner then a knock-on by blindside Cian Prendergast with the line at his mercy after a huge break by powerful wing Shayne Bolton. The Dragons made a poor start and were under the pump from the off. They haven’t won in the league since beating Zebre at the end of October and finish the season with trips to the Ospreys and Ulster then a Judgement Day clash with the rejuvenated Scarlets.

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