CONNACHT FOUGHT BACK to take a hard-earned 14 – 11 victory from today’s Pro12 clash against the Dragons in Galway.
The Welsh visitors took a 3 – 8 lead into half-time, but a 74th minute Fionn Carr finish from a brilliant Dan Parks cross-field kick leveled the game at 11 apiece before the Scot coolly slotted a late drop-goal in a hail storm.
It was an excellent finish to what had been a nightmare start with Dave McSharry was forced off the field after just five minutes with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
The western province would also lose Jake Heenan to a shoulder injury early in the second half, meaning Pat Lam’s squad will take some patching up before next week’s inter-pro against Munster at Thomond Park.
One minute after McSharry’s departure, the defensive reshuffle allowed Dragons make a clean break up the right wing and claim the first score of the day through fullback Dan Evans.
Jason Tovey’s conversion was his second miss of a windy day in Galway, but he would extend the lead to 8 – 0 with a 15th minute penalty.
Against the wind, Pat Lam’s side showed positive signs with the tight five setting a solid base at scrum time and and a 31st minute Dan Parks penalty would give the sports ground something to shout about.
Approaching half time it was Dragons on the attack again however, but a brilliant line-out steal from John Muldoon repelled the attack and left just five points between the sides at the break.
Though the wind was at their backs in the second period, the hosts looked unlikely to make a serious dent in the Dragons who, with Toby Faletau in fine form, once again proved a frustrating side to face at the breakdown.
Parks started the second half with a penalty to narrow the gap to two points, but Tovey restored the visitors’ advantage with a 50th minute penalty shortly after Heenan’s departure.
Alain Rollaind issued a yellow card to Owen Evans on the hour mark, but the hosts were unable to make the advantage tell on the scoreboard until after he returned.
INPHO/James Crombie
With six Minutes remaining Parks’ pin-point cross-kick was dotted down by Carr in the corner to level the game at 11 – 11. The angle of the conversion meant the kick was always going to be a difficult one and Parks could not guide it in.
With the Sportsground finding their voice and the hail pelting down, the crowd willed the pack into one last drive to bring the province just their second home win of the season and Parks showed his experience and class with the winning score.
