Challenge Cup: Perpignan 18 Connacht 31
Connacht took a major step closer to the European Challenge Cup knock-out stages with a deserved bonus-point win in France on Sunday afternoon.
Perpignan, having lost to Connacht in 2018 by 32-21, were reported to be “pressée de croquer” in the local newspaper, but in their ‘hurry to bite’, they also conceded 14 points in the first quarter. However, backed by some 8,000 vociferous local fans, the French outfit took control of the second half. In coming within a point, they gave their support plenty of hope, but eventually Connacht’s perseverance and quality prevailed.
The French outfit also got on the wrong side of Sara Cox, the first professional female referee, and Connacht were able to capitalise. But Perpignan worked their way back into the game to bring it within a point with 20 minutes remaining. However, the more powerful Connacht side eventually prevailed with a try in the last minute of the game to ensure their likely progress in Europe.
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Connacht were able to profit from the home side’s indiscipline. A sixth-minute penalty within yards of the line provided Pete Wilkins’s side with the first opportunity, and centre Byron Ralston went against the grain to ensure he made the line, with Jack Carty adding the extras.
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Continued indiscipline helped pave the way for Connacht’s second try to opting for touch again, the visitors mauled forward with Eoin de Buitléar claiming the second try.
The home side won a first penalty after 15 minutes, giving their supporters some hope, and with a second successive kick to touch and several thrusts to the line, eventually 19-year-old prop Lorenzo Boyer-Gallardo crossed for Perpignan’s first score, with outhalf Antoine Aucagne wide with the conversion. However, he added a penalty in the 27th minute to close the gap to six after a dominant 10 minutes.
Connacht spurned a golden opportunity to grab a third try after a superb crossfield kick from Carty, and the visitors lost a little composure. They recovered quickly, producing a 37th-minute try when Santiago Cordero sent Chay Mullins through on the right wing to give them an 18-9 lead at the break.
However a poor second-half start from Connacht provided the home side with an opportunity to close the gap, Aucagne striking a penalty from the 10-metre line after Connacht were pinged for not rolling away.
It gave the home side real hope, and the crowd was on their feet when right wing Jefferson Joseph charged through for a try, converted by Aucagne, closing the gap to a single point.
It prompted the necessary response from Connacht, and several thrusts to the line from a penalty, resulted in a try for Paul Boyle. Carty landed the conversion, and a yellow card for Adrien Warrion left the home crown incensed.
Thereafter the two teams went head to head and it was a long 15 minutes for the Connacht travelling support as the home side grabbed the impetus and looked the more threatening.
Two successive penalties, in the 73rd and 75th minutes, five metres out provided Perpignan with the opportunity, and it took a hugely impressive defensive effort to keep them out before Connacht eventually found their exit through a brilliant David Hawkshaw break.
The result was an opportunity for Connacht, and they took it via a maul, Adam McBurney getting the touchdown to deliver yet another deserved hard-fought victory on French soil – Connacht’s sixth in a row in the Challenge Cup pool stages.
Speaking after the win, Connacht head coach Wilkins praised his side’s defensive effort.
“The early points were crucial for us. I thought we attacked very well at times and you could see us getting those multi-phase impacts on the game, but the defensive set in the third quarter to keep Perpignan out and then turn it around with a good quick chase and squeeze them at the far end of the field was crucial in terms of the momentum of the game.”
Wilkins also picked out Carty as being integral to Connacht’s control of the game.
“The balance between his running game and his kicking games, and having that feel when to apply pressure with the boot and allow us to chase with fresh defenders was really important as to how we managed when Perpignan came back in strong in that second half.”
SCORING SEQUENCE – 6 mins: Ralston try, Carty con, 0-7; 10: De Buitléar try, Carty con, 0-14; 17: Boyer-Gallardo try, 5-14; 27: Aucagne pen, 8-14; 36: Mullins try, 8-19. (Half-time 8-19). 44: Aucagne pen, 11-19; 50: Joseph try, Aucagne con, 18-19; 57: Boyle try, Carty con 18-26; 78: McBurney try, 18-31.
PERPIGNAN: A Crossdale; J Joseph, R Buliruarua, A Naqalevu, M Granell; A Aucagne, J Hall; L Boyer-Gallardo, S Lam (capt), N Roelofse; A Ortombina, A Warion; N Della Schiava, M Hicks, A Dvali.
Replacements: S Fa’aso’o for Dvalie (52 mins); T Allen for Aucagne (54); V Montgaillard for Lam, K Brookes for Boyer-Gallardo and F Duguivalu for Buliruara (all 61); B Chinarro for Hicks (66); J Barcenilla D’Onghia for Rioelofse (77).
CONNACHT: S Cordero; C Mullins, B Ralston, C Forde, A Smith; J Carty, M Devine; D Buckley, E de Buitléar, S Illo; D Murray, J Joyce; C Prendergast (capt), S Hurley-Langton, S O’Brien.
Replacements: P Boyle for O’Brien (3 mins); D Hawkshaw for Smith (23); B Murphy for Devine, J Aungier for Illo (both 52); O Dowling for Joyce (54); A McBurney for De Buitléar, J Duggan for Buckley (both 62).
Referee: Sara Cox (England).
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