Edinburgh end Connacht's winning start to season with last-gasp drop
MATCH REPORT: A Ben Healy drop-goal with the last kick of the match earned Edinburgh a dramatic 25-22 win over Connacht just as the Irish side appeared to have snatched a late draw.
Connacht, looking to win their opening four games of the season for the first time since 2002, battled their way back into the game and seemed to have avoided defeat when Cian Prendergast touched down with three minutes left before JJ Hanrahan’s conversion made it 22-22.
But there was still time for Edinburgh to mount another attack and Healy broke Connacht hearts right at the end as the Scottish side picked up their third win of the United Rugby Championship season and left their opponents nursing a first loss.
After an even opening spell at the Hive Stadium, Edinburgh took the lead with a fifth-minute try by Wes Goosen.
Charlie Shiel began the move with a turnover in midfield, the ball went right, Mark Bennett broke the first line of defence, and then Shiel himself was up in support to lay on the scoring pass for the wing, with Healy adding the conversion.
Connacht pressed hard for the bulk of the first quarter after that setback, but they were kept out by a determined home defence in which Pierre Schoeman, celebrating his 100th appearance for Edinburgh, was particularly prominent.
The home side steadily grew into the game towards the closing stages of the first half, but Connacht first stifled their attempts to add to their lead, and then with half-time approaching opened their account with a Jack Carty penalty after Javan Sebastian had offended at the breakdown.
Connacht wing John Porch was taken off injured minutes after the restart before Healy saw his penalty go just wide of the posts.
Ben Vellacott then came on for Shiel, and made an instant impact.
Blair Kinghorn ran back a kick from inside his own half before feeding Duhan Van der Merwe, who made ground down the left before finding Vellacott on the inside. The scrumhalf was able to reach the line before any of the remaining three defenders could get a hand on him, and Healy added the two points to put his team 14-3 clear.
That lead was soon reduced, though, as Tiernan O’Halloran finished off from close range after being fed from the bottom of a ruck. Schoeman was shown a yellow card for head contact in a tackle in the build-up, and Carty added the conversion.
Healy was then on target with a penalty, but Connacht replacement Joe Joyce touched down to make it 17-15, with Carty missing the chance to level the scores with his conversion.
Edinburgh moved clear again with 15 minutes left when quick thinking by Vellacott from a tap penalty laid on a try for Bennett, although Healy was again off target with his conversion attempt to keep Connacht within seven points.
Connacht laid siege to the Edinburgh line after that, and with four minutes left Prendergast touched down for his team’s third try.
Hanrahan’s conversion made it 22 apiece and appeared to salvage a draw for the visitors, but then up stepped Healy for that dramatic finale.
Player of the Match:
Edinburgh’s co-captain Ben Vellacott had begun the game on the bench, but once he was on the pitch he wasted no time in making a difference. Not only did the scrumhalf swiftly cross for a try, he later laid on a vital score for Mark Bennett with a piece of quick thinking.
Play of the Match:
The opening score of the game was also the most impressive move. Edinburgh scrumhalf Charlie Shiel got things going with a turnover, and after the ball had gone through several pairs of hands, Mark Bennett cut through the Connacht defence. Shiel was up in support, and then provided the scoring pass to Wes Goosen, who touched down in the right corner.
The scorers:
For Edinburgh
Tries: Goosen, Vellacott, Bennett
Cons: Healy 2
Pen: Healy
Drop-goal: Healy
For Connacht:
Tries: O’Halloran, Joyce, Prendergast
Cons: Carty, Hanrahan
Pen: Carty
Yellow card: Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh, 50)
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Charlie Shiel, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Connor Boyle, 6 Tom Dodd, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Glen Young, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Chris Dean, 23 Ross McCann.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 Byron Ralston, 12 Tom Daly, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Carty (captain), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Seán O’Brien, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Sam Illo, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 JJ Hanrahan.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Mike Davidson (Scotland), Ru Campbell (Scotland)
TMO: Wayne Davies (Wales)
