Connacht got off to a flying start in this Heineken Cup Round 4 match in Kingsholm pinning the hosts deep inside their own half with strong pressure from the forwards. Gloucester were first on the scoreboard though with a penalty from Tim Taylor after 7 minutes. Connacht were next up when a Frank Murphy intercept brought Gavin Duffy and George Naoupu into play and when George was brought down 3m from the line Tiernan O’halloran was on hand to receive the offload and score the try. Niall O’Connor converted to give Connacht a deserved lead. Taylor crashed over for a Gloucester try after 20 minutes which he converted but Connacht finished out the half the stronger of the two sides with O’Connor adding two penalties giving the visitors a 13 10 lead at the break.

Connacht came out all guns blazing in the second half and 5 minutes in Niall O’Connor extended the lead with a penalty kick. Connacht were then forced into a long spell of defence but the line held firm and it wasn’t until the 57^th minute that Freddie Burns had a shot at goal bringing Gloucester back to within 3 points. He levelled the score 10 minutes later when Gloucester were awarded a penalty from a lineout on the 10m line. Connacht got stuck in from the restart and after Gavin Duffy fed Tiernan O’Halloran through a gap Connacht were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which Niall O’Connor converted. With 4 minutes left on the clock a gap in the Connacht defence left Jonny May free to score in the corner and he converted he try to give Gloucester a 4 point lead which they held onto to win the game.

Connacht:

Gavin Duffy ©, Mark McCrea, Eoin Griffin, Dave McSharry, Tiernan O’Halloran, Niall O’Connor, Frank Murphy, Brett Wilkinson, Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney, George Naoupu, Mike McCarthy, Dave Gannon, Johnny O’Connor, John Muldoon

Replacements:

Adrian Flavin, Dylan Rogers, Rodney Ah You, Mick Kearney, Eoin McKeon, Paul O’Donohoe, Matthew Jarvis, Kyle Tonetti

Gloucester

Olly Morgan, Charlie Sharples, Mike Tindall, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, James Simpson-Daniel, Tim Taylor, Nick Runciman, Dan Murphy, Scott Lawson, Rupert Harden, Peter Buxton, Big Jim Hamilton, Brett Deacon, Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway

Replacements:

Matias Cortese, Nick Wood, Shaun Knight, Will James, Akapusi Qera, Rory Lawson, Freddie Burns, Jonny May  

Pics (C) www.inpho.ie / James Crombie

Connacht Rugby have announced the starting XV that will face Gloucester this weekend (Kingsholm, Saturday 17th December, kick-off 15.40)

The side sees just 2 changes from the starting team that narrowly lost out to Gloucester last weekend. Johnny O'Connor's timely return to full fitness sees him replace Ray Ofisa who was taken off with a knee injury while Eoin Griffin steps in for Kyle Tonetti who moves to the bench. The only other change sees Dylan Rogers replace Denis Buckley as replacement prop.

Connacht have recently been boosted with the re-signing of four key contracts and all four will start this weekend's match. Centres Eoin Griffin and Dave McSharry have both committed the next two years to the Province as has John Muldoon with Johnny O'Connor singing up until at least the end on the 2012/13season.

Connacht XV to face Gloucester in Kingsholm (Saturday 17th December, kick-off 15.40)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Mark McCrea

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Dave McSharry

11 Tiernan O'Halloran

10 Niall O'Connor

09 Frank Murphy

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Ethienne Reynecke

03 Ronan Loughney

04 George Naoupu

05 Mike McCarthy

06 Dave Gannon 

07 Johnny O'Connor

08 John Muldoon 

16 Adrian Flavin

17 Dylan Rogers

18 Rodney Ah You

19 Mick Kearney

20 Eoin McKeon

21 Paul O'Donohoe

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Kyle Tonetti

Connacht’s hopes of earning their 1^st Heineken Cup win were dashed on Saturday as Gloucester won 14-10 in the Sportsground.

Connacht had the chance to draw first blood when Niall O’Connor stood up to take a difficult penalty after the hosts has a fantastic start. His effort drifted just wide after 10 minutes and it was Gloucester who struck first with 2 Freddie Burns penalties in the first quarter. Both sides left no stone unturned as they searched for the games first try and it was English international James Simpson Daniel who crossed for Gloucester on the half hour mark to give the visitors an 11 point lead. This was the stimulus that Connacht needed and right from the kick-off a hard chase was won by Ray Ofisa who set up the platform for captain Gavin Duffy to race in under the posts. Niall O’Connor’s conversion was good an all of a sudden Connacht were right back in contention.

Connacht picked up the second half as they finished the first with strong running, fierce rucking and clean lineout ball and 4 minutes in were rewarded with another Niall O’Connor penalty to leave the gap at just 1 point. Despite Connacht trying every avenue, from rumbling up with the forwards so cutting sharp attacking lines, they were unable to break down the Gloucester defense and, with 8 minutes left on the clock Freddie Burns kicked a penalty for Gloucester to leave the final score Connacht 10 Gloucester 14.

Connacht:

G Duffy, M McCrea, K Tonetti, D McSharry, T O’Halloran, N O’Connor, F Murphy, b Wilkinson, E Reynecke, R Loughney, D Gannon, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu

A Flavin, D Buckley, R Ah You, M Kearney, E McKeon, P O’Donohoe, M Jarvis, F Vainikolo

Gloucester:

O Morgan, C Sharples, H Trinder, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, J Simpson-Daniel, F Burns, R Lawson, D Christolini, P Buxton, J Hamilton, B Deacon, A Hazell, L Narraway

M Cortese, D Murphy, R Harden, W James, A Qera, N Runciman, T Taylor, J May

All pics (C) www.inpho.ie / James Crombie