Connacht book a play-off spot

MATCH REPORT: Connacht confirmed their place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs after a 38-19 win over Cardiff.

They confirmed their place in the United Rugby Championship play-offs and Champions Cup qualification with the victory.

Connacht led 26-7 at half-time thanks to tries from Diarmuid Kilgallen, Diarmuid Tierney-Martin, Conor Oliver and Mack Hansen.

Thomas Young doubled Cardiff’s try tally in the 48th minute, adding to a Seb Davies effort, but a penalty try and a late score from Bristol-bound scrumhalf Kieran Marmion wrapped up the result.

Despite flank Young squeezing in a last-minute try, Cardiff fell short of a bonus point ahead of their crunch Judgement Day clash with Ospreys next weekend.

Connacht hit the front in the 13th minute, Tom Farrell taking advantage of a mismatch in midfield to send wing Kilgallen over to the right of the posts. Jack Carty converted.

Profiting from James Botham’s sin-binning for a high tackle on Oliver, a patiently-worked maul sent hooker Tierney-Martin over in the right corner.

Connacht’s scrum did some damage before Caolin Blade broke past Tomos Williams and offloaded out of a tackle for Oliver to dive in under the posts.

The visitors pulled back seven points on the half-hour mark, a dummying Liam Belcher making the initial break before Williams’ speedy pass sent lock Davies over.

However, the Irish province pocketed their bonus point when Hansen cruised in under the posts via a Bundee Aki offload, with Carty restoring the 19-point gap.

Cardiff took Connacht through 33 phases early on the resumption, eventually using a well-controlled drive to put Young over, leaving it 26-12.

The Welsh side’s line-out let them down on two more occasions, though, and an accidental clash meant Owen Lane had to be stretchered off.

Connacht regained control past the hour mark, Aki joining a maul that earned a penalty try due to two Cardiff players infringing. Young was singled out for a yellow card.

Cardiff’s Welsh Shield hopes now rest on their final round date with Ospreys – Young did get over after Max Llewellyn had botched an earlier chance – but a 75th-minute snipe from Marmion had the hosts, who reclaim sixth place, out of sight.

Player of the Match

Centre Aki enjoyed a triumphant return to Connacht’s midfield, his industry on both sides of the ball earning him the medal. Niall Murray also stood out, particularly in disrupting the Cardiff line-out, while two-try openside Young and Rhys Carre, off the bench, had good outings for the visitors.

Play of the Match

Try scorer Kilgallen ran a kick back with interest, breaching the Cardiff 22 before Finlay Bealham and Carty – both releasing the ball before absorbing big tackles – freed up Aki to have a cut. The Ireland centre drew in two defenders and popped the ball away for Hansen to step inside Josh Turnbull and dart over from 15 metres out.

The scorers

For Connacht
Tries: Kilgallen, Tierney-Martin, Oliver, Hansen, Marmion, Penalty try
Cons: Carty 3, a penalty try does not require a conversion

For Cardiff
Tries: Davies, Young 2
Cons: Priestland 2

Yellow cards: James Botham (Cardiff, 16), Thomas Young (Cardiff, 66)

Teams:

Cardiff: 15 Ben Thomas, 14 Owen Lane, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Jason Harries, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tomos Williams (captain), 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Thomas Young, 6 James Botham, 5 Seb Davies, 4 Lopeti Timani, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Corey Domachowski
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Rhys Carré, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Josh Turnbull, 21 James Ratti, 22 Lloyd Williams, 23 Harri Millard

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitléar, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Tom Daly, 23 Shane Jennings

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Dan Carson (Ireland), Tomas O’Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)