| Northampton 42 Connacht 13 | |||||
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  Connacht's Troy Nathan in action against Northampton on Saturday. Photo:INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan Northampton Saints 42 Connacht 13 Connacht’s hopes of European glory died when Northampton scored four tries in the final ten minutes at Franklin’s Gardens. Connacht led in the third quarter and were 15-13 adrift when first Johnny O’Connor and then Gavin Duffy were sin-binned. Earlier replacement prop Brian McGovern was yellow-carded within a minute of replacing the injured Ronan Loughney. Northampton used their numerical advantage to score four tries in the closing stages and secure a place in the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup. The home side led 9-6 at the break with ian Keatley landing a penalty and a drop goal in response to penalties from Stephen Myler. Gavin Duffy set up Ray Ofisa for the game’s opening try after 52 minutes with Keatley’s convert putting Connacht ahead for the first time in the game. A close finish was on the cards until the sin-binnings as Irish international Neil Best got Northampton’s first try afer 70 minutes before they closed out the game against a stretched Connacht side. Northampton Saints: Tries: Best, Ansbro, Reihana, Mayor Cons: Myler, Everitt. Pens: Myler (6) Connacht: Tries: Ofisa Cons: Keatley Pens: Keatley Drop goals: Keatley Northampton Saints: B Foden; P Diggin, J Ansbro, J Downey, B Reihana; S Myler, L Dickson; S Tongauiha, D Hartley, E Murray, I Fernandez Lobbe, J Kruger, N Best, J Gray, R Wilson. Replacements: C Lawes for Lobbe, 50 mins; M Easter for Murray, 63 mins; A Dickens for Dickson, 70 mins; B Sharman for Hartley, 71 mins; C Mayor for Downey, 71 mins; T Smith for Tongauiha, 75 mins; B Everitt for Myler, 76 mins. Connacht: G Duffy; F Carr, K Mathews, N Ta'auso, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney, A Browne, A Farley, J Muldoon, J O'Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: T Nathan for Matthews, 23 mins; B McGovern for Loughney, 34 mins; M Swift for Ofisa, 60 mins; C Rigney for McGovern, 62 mins; A Flavin for Cronin, 73 mins; C O’Loughlin for Murphy, 76 mins; A Dunne for Ta’auso, 76 mins. Referee: R Poite (France). Attendance: 9119 |
| Last Updated ( Monday, 13 April 2009 16:09 ) |  |
