By Jordan Jones
Connacht edge the Scarlets to top the URC A last-minute kick converted by Jack Carty helped Connacht to a table-topping four points in an intense battle with the Scarlets.
A first half brace from Gareth Davies was bettered by tries from O’conor, Hansen and Murphy to give the visitors the lead at the break. In the second half, the battle of the boot decided the game.
The Scarlets were looking for their first win of the season following a draw to Benneton and a defeat at home to Cardiff last Saturday. Connacht were looking to go top of the URC with yet another win over the hosts, having won the last four times these sides had met.
The Irish visitors showed real intent when they ignored a three-point opportunity a minute in and opted to kick for touch. Five yards from the tryline, Connacht looked to overpower the Scarlets defense and make a statement early on. But a fantastic defensive display from the Reds resulted in a well-earned penalty, they won centimeters from the try line, and the game remained scoreless.
Connacht would break the deadlock in the tenth minute. Ioan Nicholas scrambled to retrieve a bouncing ball in his own try area, but in doing so threw a loose pass for Piers O’Conor to dive on to, and with Jack Carty’s conversion, the visitors led by seven.
O’Conor’s evening would get better, or so he thought. Five minutes later, he crossed the line again emerging from a crowd of players, but his try was overturned due to an obstruction in the buildup. As Scarlets kept escaping, Connacht grew more dangerous.
Jack Carty was at the center of the attack in the first half, and his smart kick found an appreciative Mack Hansen on the right wing who pounced on the ball and increased his side’s lead to 14. On the 19th minute, young Sam Costelow felt the full force of Irish international Bundee Aki who’s high tackle saw him in the sin bin.
Just two minutes later, Scarlets went over the line through the speedy work of Gareth Davies. Costelow’s conversion cut the deficit in half. Scarlets would later level the match with some scintillating rugby.
Williams found a gap with a dummy and broke the line, handing the ball off to the ever-willing Eddie James who powered down the field before passing to Gareth Davies who ran under the posts for his second try of the night.
With confidence rampant, Dwayne Peel’s side forced another penalty ten yards from the Connacht try line but opted to kick for touch rather than take the points. Much like their opponents at the start of the game, they couldn’t convert. Had they taken a chance at three points, they might have led at half time.
But they did not, and Connacht punished the hosts in the 38th minute as they broke away through the middle of the park. Devastating speed and beautiful passing saw Ben Murphy under the posts in a flash. Connacht led 21 – 14 at the interval.
In the second half the Scarlets passed down no opportunities for three points. Costelow and Ioan Lloyd both converted penalty attempts to cut the gap to one with 25 minutes to go. At the hour mark, wholesale changes had been made on both sides. It was a coin toss as to who would seize victory at the Parc Y Scarlets.
Delicately poised, the home crowd increased the volume in what was an ever-intensifying atmosphere. Gradually, Scarlets started moving through the gears with the crowd behind them. As a result, Connacht made error upon error, gifting the hosts scoring chances in good positions.
However, Peel’s side could not seem to breach the formidable travelling defense. Then, 73 minutes in, Max Douglas worked some magic at the ruck to earn his side a penalty and Sam Costelow a chance to put the Scarlets in front for the first time in the game. As he thumped the ball between the sticks, the crowd rejoiced as the comeback was complete.
Unbelievably, it was 22 – 21 to the Scarlets with five minutes to hold out. But Jack Carty got a chance to set the record straight at the end. On the right side of the pitch halfway between the 10-meter line and the 22, Connacht’s fly half had a kick to win the game.
Amidst a cascade of boos, Carty stayed cool and converted the penalty, giving Peter Wilkins’ visiting side an impressive win in Llanelli. The game finished Scarlets 23 – 24 Connacht.
Scarlets: 23
TRIES: 2 (Davies 21’, 30’)
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Costelow 22’, 31’)
PENALTIES: 3 (Costelow 42’, Lloyd 52’ Costelow 74’)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0 15. Ioan Nicholas, 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Johnny Williams, 12. Eddie James, 11. Blair Murray, 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Gareth Davies, 1. Alec Hepburn, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Sam Lousi, 5. Max Douglas, 6. Josh Macleod, 7. Dan Davis, 8. Taine Plumtree.
16. Marnus Van Der Merwe (56’), 17. Kemsley Mathias (63’), 18. Sam Wainwright (56’), 19. Alex Craig (63’), 20. Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21. Efan Jones, 22. Ioan Lloyd (43’), 23. Macs Page (45’).
Connacht: 24
TRIES: 3 (O’Conor 10’, Hansen 16’, Murphy 38’)
CONVERSIONS: 3 (Carty 11’, 17’, 39’ 79’)
PENALTIES: 0
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Aki 19’)
RED CARDS: 0