Connacht deny Munster top spot

Kieran Marmion's eye-catching try sparked a scintillating Connacht comeback that produced a 24-16 victory over inter-provincial rivals Munster.

With just one win against Munster in 41 encounters, and none in the last six years, Connacht had history to contend with.

Meanwhile Munster, knowing a win would see them return to the Pro12 summit, made a fast start as a pair of Ian Keatley penalties and Peter O'Mahony's try opened up a 13-0 lead.

However, Connacht are unbeaten at the Sportsground this season and they soon began to show why, firstly through Marmion's superb score before the break.

Craig Ronaldson and Aly Muldowney each crossed over after halftime as the hosts avoided a third straight league defeat and moved within one point of the top four.

Despite the wind trying its level best to knock the ball of its tee, Ian Keatley struck the game's first points on six minutes after Connacht were caught off their feet in the ruck.

They were further ahead after ten minutes when a powerful driving maul from the lineout saw captain O'Mahony pile across the whitewash, Keatley nailing the touchline conversion.

The flyhalf soon maintained his impeccable start to the game with a second penalty after Bundee Aki was pinged for obstruction, making it 13-0.

Connacht began to get more of a foothold in the contest but their pressure came without the necessary cutting edge to carve open a resilient red defence, until an exquisite score on the half-hour mark.

Robbie Henshaw sprinted onto Ronaldson's neat chip, catching the ball on the full before beating two defenders and offloading to Marmion to streak clear and touch down for Ronaldson to convert.

Despite Connacht's momentum, demonstrated by a pair of powerful rolling mauls, it was Munster who had the last laugh of the half, Keatley kicking a simple penalty after Aki's high tackle on Simon Zebo.

The hosts got off to a flyer after the break, Henshaw breaking the Munster line and feeding Aki to attack the line. He was held up but Ronaldson was on hand to pile over and, after a consultation with the TMO, celebrate Connacht's second try.

With Ronaldson off the pitch for a concussion assessment, Darragh Leader did the honours from the tee, reducing the gap to two points.

Henshaw and Aki continued to link up to great effect, once again finding their way deep into Munster territory but a Miah Nikora knock-on halted their progress.

They did eventually take the lead for the first time after 56 minutes, Nikora's well-struck penalty sailing between the posts, and it was soon extended when Marmion picked a gap in the Munster defence, and after a couple of dives for the line, Muldowney was there to squeeze over for Leader to convert.

With Munster chasing a late response Connacht's stiff resistance kept them at bay for almost ten minutes before a turnover and a clearance kick secured a famous result.

*In the only other New Years Day match, Cory Allen scored the game's only try as Cardiff Blues made amends for their Boxing Day defeat to Newport Dragons with an 11-9 triumph at Rodney Parade.

Allen made amends for Gareth Anscombe's slow start from the tee, crossing over on the quarter-hour mark after good work from the flyhalf.

Tom Prydie's boot edged the Dragons ahead after the break but Anscombe had the final say, knocking over the decisive penalty to deny the home side, who won the reverse fixture 23-17 just six days earlier, a fifth win on the bounce.

All Thursday's scores and scorers!

Newport Dragons 9-11 Cardiff Blues

For Newport:

Pens: Prydie 3

For Cardiff:

Try: Allen

Pen: Anscombe

DG: Anscombe

Teams:

Newport Dragons: 15 Tom Prydie, 14 Matthew Pewtner, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Taulupe Faletau. 7 Nic Cudd, 6 James Thomas, 5 Rynard Landman (captain), 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Phil Price.

Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Dan Way, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Dorian Jones, 23 Geraint Rhys Jones.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Richard Smith, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Lucas Amorosino, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Josh Navidi, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).     

Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Adam Jones, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Adam Thomas.

Referee: Ian Davies

Assistant referees: Sean Brickell, Simon Rees

TMO: Derek Bevan

Connacht 24-16 Munster

For Connacht:

Tries: Muldowney, Marmion, Ronaldson

Cons: Leader 2, Ronaldson

Pen: Nikora

For Munster:

Try: O'Mahony

Con: Keatley

Pens: Keatley 3

Teams:

Connacht: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 George Naoupu, 21 John Cooney, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Dave McSharry.

Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Pat Howard, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (captain), 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Billy Holland, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 John Ryan.

Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Ivan Dineen.

Referee: David Wilkinson

Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice

TMO: Kevin Beggs