Resolute Connacht strike late to snatch the spoils

The Kildare native led from the front after coming off the bench, initially for an eight-minute spell in the opening quarter and then as a permanent replacement after 47 minutes. His impact was huge, really giving Connacht go-forward ball and the massive contribution he made was illustrated by him being named man-of-the-match despite being on the field for half the game.

“We knew Glasgow are a superb side and we would need to dig deep to beat them. But I think some of the hard work done in the first half against the wind to lead 3-0 at half-time, was really helpful to us,” said Prendergast.

Sean Jansen was the hero when scored an 80th minute try to snatch victory at the death as they came from 10-3 down six minutes from time end Glasgow’s winning run.

Connacht were rewarded for not giving up when it seemed the game was slipping away from them against a Glasgow side bidding to make it ten wins in a row.

But Connacht, who have let so many winning hands slip all season, regrouped and with Prendergast leading the way, they mounted a winning rally and provide a thrilling finish to a game which struggled to ignite until the closing stages.

Connacht had just 18% possession at the end of the opening quarter but yet led 3-0 at the break after dealing with Glasgow’s early onslaught.

The hosts got their tackles in and maintained their discipline to keep the Scots at bay before finally stringing a few movements together and take the game to the league leaders.

A combination of tighthead Sam Illo, centre Cathal Forde and No.8 Jansen did enough to deprive winger Ollie Smith in the left corner and thwart Glasgow’s best chance after full-back Josh McKay had put him away with a neat out the back pass.

Connacht hit the front after 24 minutes when Sam Gilbert converted a penalty from 30 metres but when they tapped and went four minutes later, Jansen was held up over the line and Glasgow cleared.

Paul Boyle and Jansen were both stopped short nine minutes from the break before Jansen was pinged for diving over the cover.

Neither side managed to make inroads in the third quarter but the home followers in the crowd of 8,654 were incensed when lock Joe Joyce was binned for following through after a crooked lineout from Glasgow, with scrumhalf Ben Afshar going to ground and making the most out of the incident. Glasgow made the extra man count and winger Kyle Rowe slipped through tackles to score after 61 minutes but Adam Hastings missed the conversion from the left.​

Gilbert, bidding for his 31st successful kick, kicked wide from 30 metres in front of the posts after 65 minutes and two minutes later Rowe danced through tackles after collecting a crosskick from his outhalf Dan Lancaster, son of the Connacht head coach.

Hastings again missed the conversion and that proved costly as Connacht, with Prendergast making ground every time with ball in hand and Jack Carty also making a telling impact off the bench, got back in contention when Joyce squeezed over beside the posts, with Gilbert converting to tie the game.

Bundee Aki also made a significant contribution when he made his return from suspension off the bench amid speculation that the centre, who will be 36 next month, could be on his way out of Galway in the summer when his contract expires.

A fourth ever draw between Glasgow and Connacht seemed the liklely outcome but Prendergast made the hard yards down the right and his pass inside was knocked into touch off a Glasgow body five metres from the line.

That was all Connacht needed. Replacement hooker Matthew Victory kept his nerve and picked out Josh Murphy in the lineout and they got the push before Jansen peeled away to score the winner in the right corner.

Connacht will resume their URC campaign next week when they take on Scarlets at Dexcom Stadium on Friday, 13 March.

Connacht: S Gilbert; S Jennings, H West (B Aki 56), C Forde, F Treacy; J Ioane (J Carty 56), C Blade (C Reilly 57); D Buckley (B Bohan 47), D Tierney-Martin (M Victory 72), S Illo (J Aungier 47); D O’Connor (J Murphy 7-15, 68), J Joyce; P Boyle, S O’Brien (C Prendergast 47), S Jansen (Prendergast 7-15).

Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; K Rowe, S McDowall, K Yule (A Hastings 20), O Smith; D Lancaster, B Afshar (J Oliver 68); J Bhatti (P Schickerling 47), S Stephen (G Hiddleston 47), M Walker (S Talakai 47); J Oguntibeju (A Craig 47), A Samuel (Oguntibeju 76); E Ferrie, A Fraser (S Vailanu 47), A Miller.