| Connacht lose in Madejski | |||||
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 London Irish 75 Connacht 5 Connacht’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup will depend on victory over Dax in their final pool game after suffering a heavy defeat at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday. London Irish booked a home quarter-final and did it in style, running in eleven tries to one for Connacht. Connacht, fielding a much changed side from that which did duty against Munster, Leinster and Scarlets, were on the back foot from the early stages as the English Premiership leaders ran in three converted tries in the opening thirteen minutes. Danny Riordan pulled back a try for Connacht after 18 minutes but London Irish finished the half stongly to lead by 35-5 at the break. They continued to dominate in the second-half, with full-back Peter Hewat finishing the game with five tries. Connacht will now turn their attention to Friday night’s game in Galway where a full strength side will be fancied for victory over Dax and a place in the quarter-finals in April. London Irish: P Hewat; T Ojo, S Mapusua, S Geraghty, J Bailey; M Catt, P Hodgson; C Dermody, D Paice, R Skuse; J Hudson, B Casey; R Thorpe, S Armitage, C Hala’ufia. Replacements: D Murphy for Dermody, half-time; D Coetzee for Paice, 47 mins; D Danaher for Armitage, 47 mins; T Lea’aetoa for Skuse, 47 mins; W Fury for Hodgson, 53 mins; G Johnson for Hudson, 53 mins; E Seveali’I for Catt, 53 mins. Connacht: D Riordan; T Nathan, J Hearty, M Deane, M Roberts; A Dunne, K Campbell; J Lyne, A Flavin, R Loughney; M Swift, A Farley; A Browne, D Gannon, C Rigney. Replacements: C O’Loughlin for Campbell, 53 mins; M McCarthy for Farley, 53 mins; B McGovern for Lyne, 55 mins; J Merrigan for Loughney, 65 mins; J Muldoon for Rigney, 66 mins; L Bibo for Hearty, 62 mins. Referee: A McPherson(Scotland). |
| Last Updated ( Monday, 19 January 2009 09:58 ) |  |
