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By John O'Sullivan
Connacht returned to winning ways in the Guinness PRO14 with a 37-26, bonus-point win away to Edinburgh.
A brace of tries from Alex Wootton, as well as a touchdown apiece from Caolin Blade, Sammy Arnold, and Shane Delahunt -- with Conor Fitzgerald(3) and Tom Daly (9) both adding points from the tee -- sealed the win for Andy Friends Westerners in a performance of brilliant attacking execution.
Without seven of their Irish contingent, the visitors -- who made several changes to their team after the loss to Cardiff Blues two weekends ago -- started with intent and they scored the first points of the night when Fitzgerald confidently slotted a penalty.
Edinburgh responded well, however, and scored the first try of the night when Nick Groom -- the Scots' captain -- sniped over from short range after his pack put significant pressure on the Connacht line. Jaco van der Walt added the extras to make the score 7-3 in favour of the hosts.
Fitzgerald, making his first start of the campaign, was running the Westerners backline with authority and with a massive penalty kick for touch gave the visitors a line out in the Edinburgh 22.
Blade, after the line-out gave Connacht possession close to the hosts line, then scored the Irish teams first try of the game when he, in a move of sheer ingenuity, -- tight to the touchline on the blindside -- cleverly grubber kicked ahead, before catching his own kick to touch down. The conversion was wide, but the score was deserved for the Westerners after a strong start.
One try soon became two when Fitzgerald, who was given territory by the powerful carries of the pack -- with Abraham Papali'i especially prominent in the carrying stakes -- stabbed a grubber kick through that Arnold caught to give Connacht their second try.
The Westerners were playing with a huge degree of pace and confidence and they scored their third try of a highly entertaining half when Wootton -- whose intelligent trail line saw him collect an offload -- touched down after brilliant run from John Porch down the left-hand touchline. Daly, who had moved to out-half to replace the injured Fitzgerald, slotted the conversion and Connacht found themselves 20-7 to the good.
There were further scores in a highly engaging half when Daly accurately kicked a penalty at goal and Mike Willemse -- touching down at the tail of a rolling maul -- powered over for the hosts to take the half time score to 23-14 in favour of Connacht.
Chasing the victory, Edinburgh started the second period in strong fashion and had their third try when Willemse -- once again the benefactor of a strong rolling maul -- crossed the whitewash. The conversion was wide, but at 23-19 the game was delicately poised.
Blade was managing the game excellently for the Westerners -- with his accurate box kicks a great source of territorial gains -- and he applied this influence again when his grubber kick through in the Edinburgh 22 found Wootton to touch down for his second try. Daly slotted the extras to take the score to 30-19.
With confidence coursing through the team, Connacht completed the win with their fifth try. A sharp and incisive line from Delahunt gave the Irishmen territory in the home teams 22. Then, after some hard carries from the pack, the hooker smashed his way over for a try that Daly, whose kicking was peerless throughout, converted.
Edinburgh would have the final score when Andrew Davidson powered over from close range, but it was Connacht's night and they held out to secure a brilliant win, 26-37.
Connacht team:
(15-9)
15: John Porch
14: Sammy Arnold
13: Tom Farrell
12: Tom Daly
11: Alex Wootton
10: Conor Fitzgerald
9: Caolin Blade
(8-1)
8: Abraham Papali'i i
7: Jarrad Butler
6: Paul Boyle
5: Gavin Thornbury
4: Eoghan Masterson
3: Jack Aungier
2: Shane Delahunt
1: Denis Buckley
Replacements: Paddy McAllister for Buckley, Dominic Robertson McCoy for Aungier, Johnny Murphy for Delahunt, Tiernan O'Halloran for Arnold, Peter Robb for Fitzgerald, Colm Reilly for Blade, Cian Prendergast for Masterson, Oliver for Papali'ii
