Bench press crucial as JJ Hanrahan plays crucial role in Connacht victory
Andrew Smith of Connacht makes a break through the Cardiff defence. Photo: Gruff Thomas/Sportsfile
Connacht made heavy work of it despite having a numerical advantage for most of the game but in the end got over the line to secure their first win in the Arms Park in seven years.
Cardiff finished the opening half with just 13 men on the pitch but still managed to lead 7-6 at the interval despite having centre Ray Lee-Lo sent off for a head-to-head challenge on Shayne Bolton which ended the Connacht winger’s evening after just 15 minutes.
Connacht had edged in front by then with a penalty from 30 metres from JJ Hanrahan after five minutes after an earlier penalty to the right corner was held up.
But it was Cardiff who responded better to the dismissal and took the game to Connacht in heavy rain which made handling very difficult. The Welsh kept it in tight when it mattered and got in for a fine try after several phases when centre Ben Thomas spotted a gap in the cover and stepped inside to score. Tinus de Beer converted to lead 7-3 after 18 minutes.
Four minutes from the break Cardiff No 8 Lopeti Limani was binned for a high tackle on Connacht captain Caolin Blade.
Connacht opted for the posts for another penalty moments later on the stroke of half-time with Hanrahan kicking from 40 metres to cut the gap to the minimum.
Cardiff’s Tongan international Limani made an instant impact on his return, peeling away from another penalty to the corner and getting over for an unconverted try to make it 12-6 after 46 minutes.
Connacht’s stronger bench made an impact with Jarrad Butler made yardage from a lineout. Ten phases later another sub, Peter Dooley, drove low through the cover to score his first try for Connacht since his move from Leinster. Hanrahan tapped over the easy conversion to edge them back in front 13-12 with 18 minutes left.
Hanrahan extended the lead to 16-12 two minutes later with a penalty from 25 metres and they never looked like being caught in the closing stages.
Scorers: Cardiff: Tries: B Thomas, L Timani. Con: T de Beer. Connacht: Try: P Dooley. Con: JJ Hanrahan. Pens: Hanrahan (3)
Cardiff: J Beetham (W Halaholo 75); O Lane, R Lee-Lo, B Thomas, A Summershill; T de Beer (A Robson 68), E Bevan (J Hill 68); R Carré, L Belcher (c) (E Daniel 68), W Davies-King (C Parker 58); S Lewis-Hughes, S Davies; B Donnell (M Martin 17), T Young, L Timani.
Connacht: T O’Halloran; S Bolton (T Farrell 15), D Hawkshaw, C Forde, A Smith; JJ Hanrahan (J Carty 72), C Blade (M McDonald 72); D Buckley (P Dooley 52), D Heffernan (T McElroy 52), J Aungier (S Illo 52), N Murray; J Joyce (O Dowling 52); S Hurley-Langton, C Oliver (J Butler 60), C Prendergast.
Referee: Andrea Piarda (Italy).
