Woeful Connacht slump to a 13th defeat on the trot

Date Published: {J}

An error-prone Connacht were beaten on their travels on Saturday as bottom side Aironi secured a third win of a much improved campaign and pulled to within three points of their opponents in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 standings.

Connacht failed to even garner a losing bonus point from the contest as they extended the losing run that stretches back to their home win over the Dragons on September 23.

A sluggish, ill-disciplined start did most of the damage. Connacht trailed 9-0 on 25 minutes and at that point had conceded six penalties to Aironi’s one – where Matthew Jarvis missed a long range kick at goal.

Luciano Orquera was in fine form with the boot and nailed the key scores throughout the contest, he kicked five from six on a night when Aironi demonstrated how far they have come in a short period of time. Connacht started brightly, but then an early knock on from Dave McSharry off a switch pass from Jarvis proved to be a bitter foretaste of what lay ahead.

The visitors had the platform to launch attacks on numerous occasions in the first half from lineouts just outside the 22 to scrums in key positions but the composure was not there when needed and their most promising ventures into the 22 all ended in frustration.

As half-time approached, the rising penalty count stretched referee Andrew McMenemy’s nerves too far and Dylan Rogers was shown a yellow card for his side’s persistent infringements on the ground. Aironi had just two minutes to make it count before the break and almost did so with a lineout and maul that was held up over the line.

Much to the relief of the travelling party, the half time whistle went, meaning Connacht avoided the five metre scrum on their line.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.