Connacht 24 Bristol 14
As a dress rehearsal for the start of a changed Pro 14 League next week, Connacht's new coach Kieran Keane was perhaps the happier man than his predecessor Pat Lam.
Not only did Connacht overcome Lam’s expensively assembled Bristol by 24-14, but the Galway Sportsground produced a record crowd of 3,800 for a pre-season game, “a humbling experience” for the former Chiefs’ assistant in his first match in Galway.
“Lovely to get a win here and pretty humbled by the crowd,” said Keane. “I have not experienced anything like it in pre-season. The atmosphere was pretty unique, it was a beautiful day, some great rugby, and a good result for us.”
Level at half-time after prop Peter McCabe and right wing David Lemi crossed for Connacht and Bristol respectively, the home side then added three second-half tries through Kieran Marmion, a penalty try, and a late effort from Rory Scholes – his second in two matches.
Bristol threatened, but only replacement fullback Mat Protheroe made it through a porous Connacht defence in the second 40.
“We did pretty well, but we could have done better,” said Keane. “We are not perfect, but no one is really, and we have a wee bit of work to do to get up to speed. Some issues manifested themselves again today, but they are not unsolvable.
“There is a real buzz around the group. We have the talent and the work ethic and the personnel to address it.”
Connacht showed real attacking signs in their play, with several players putting their hands up for selection against Glasgow Warriors next weekend. Both wingers Matt Healy and Cian Kelleher looked potent out wide – Healy providing an early break which was finished by McCabe after four minutes. In newcomer Jarrad Butler, Connacht has a speedy backrow player who made a nuisance of himself when needed, alongside Eoghan Masterson and John Muldoon.
“This is the way we will play the game with hopefully a bit more polish.” said Keane. “The skeleton and bones are there, so if we could add a bit a more polish on that way of playing, then I would be more than happy.”
Although Connacht conceded a try to Lemi who had the easiest of run-ins after losing possession, they regained the lead just after the break when Marmion finished off after the ball went through the hands of nearly every player. And the pack will be pleased to have won a penalty try from a scrum before Protheroe scored.
An always threatening Tom Varndell was stopped by Muldoon and Kelleher to relieve some pressure from the visitors, but Connacht had the last say when Scholes grabbed his second try in two games on 74 minutes. It may not be the best result for Lam with four pre-season defeats on the trot, but Bristol are still favourites to win the Greene King IPA Championship and return to the premiership.
CONNACHT: D Leader; C Kelleher, E Griffin, C Ronaldson, M Healy; J Carty, P McCabe; T McCartney, F Bealham, U Dillane; A Browne, E Masterson; J Butler, J Muldoon (capt), E Masterson.
Replacements: B Aki for Ronaldson, J Cannon for Browne, R Scholes for Healy and C McKeon for Marmion (54 mins), JP Cooney for McCabe and C Carey for Bealham (63 mins), E McKeon for Muldoon (64 mins), S Delahunt for McCartney (64 mins), S Crosbie for Carty and S Ili for Kelleher (72 mins).
BRISTOL: J Wiliams; D Lemi, W Hurrell, T Pusi, T Varndell; I Madigan, R Williams; S Tonga'uiha, J Harris-Wright, S Faletau; J Batley, J Joyce; S Jeffries (capt), D Thomas, N Haining.
Replacements: S Luatua for Jeffries, M Crumpton for Harris Wright, J Cosgrove for Tonga'uiha, S Bedlow for Hurrell, J Tovey for Pisi, T Gendall for Faletau, L Morahan for Lemi, J Lam for Thomas, J Crane for Haining, J Latta for Joyce, B Searle for Madigan, R Cullen for Williams.
Referee: G Clancy (IRFU).
