Connacht 21 Scarlets 24
Frustrations mount for Pat Lam's Connacht after they suffered a seventh defeat on the trot in the Rabo Pro 12. The latest loss at the Sportsground, keeps them bottom of the league table – one point below Italian outfit Zebre.
Once again Connacht had the opportunities to win this fixture against a side missing 10 internationals, in addition to losing three to the sin-bin.
Three opening penalties from outhalf Craig Ronaldson gave the home side impetus but rather than push on after the first yellow card when camped on the Scarlets’ line, the home side lost their way.
Scarlets took their opportunity from a penalty to touch and right wing Frazier Climo grabbed the opening try to give his side an 11-9 half-time lead. Ronaldson missed a chance to regain the lead after the break, but Scarlets got two tries in quick succession – hooker Kirby Mihill grabbing the first from a maul and scrumhalf Gareth Davies diving over four minutes later to establish a 25-9 lead.
However a Matt Healy try from an intercept and 60-metre dash provided real hope and when replacement hooker Jason Harris Wright touched down from a well-worked drive after the second Scarlet's yellow card in the 67th minute, it left just three between the sides. In a prolonged period of extra-time, Connacht couldn't conjure up another vital score.
CONNACHT: G Duffy, D Leader, E Griffin, D McSharry, M Healy, C Ronaldson, K Marmion B Wilkinson, S Henry, N White, M Swift, C Clarke, A Muldowney, J Heenan, E Masterson. Replacements: R Loughney for Wilkinson (33 mins), J Harris-Wright for Henry and R Ah You for White (54 mins), D Parks for Ronaldson (57 mins), M Kearney for Swift and G Naoupu for Masterson (60 mins), F Carr for Duffy (64), F Murphy for Marmion (77).
SCARLETS: G Owen, F Climo, G Maule, A Warren, N Reynolds, A Thomas, G Davies, P John, K Myhill, J Adriaanse, J Ball, G Earle, A Shingler, J Turnbull, S Timani. Replacements: A Davies for G Davies (70 mins), J Snyman for Earle (71), D Thomas for Timani (76 mins), S Hopkins for John and K Phillips for Male (79 mins).
