Sloppy Connacht squeeze past 14-man Cardiff

2 years ago 46
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Ben Thomas scoresBen Thomas scored the game's opening try for Cardiff
Cardiff (7) 12
Tries: Thomas, Timani Cons: De Beer
Connacht (6) 16
Try: Dooley Con: Hanrahan Pens: Hanrahan 3

Connacht edged 14-man Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC) for their first win there for seven years.

Cardiff produced a gutsy display in front of a sell-out 12,000 crowd after centre Rey Lee-Lo's early red for a head-on-head tackle on Shayne Bolton.

Ben Thomas and Lopeti Timani, who was also shown a yellow card, scored either side of half-time to lead 12-6.

But Connacht replacement Peter Dooley defied his team's error-strewn display to barge over for the winning score.

More to follow.

Cardiff: Jacob Beetham; Owen Lane, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Aled Summerhill; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Rhys Carre, Liam Belcher, Will Davies-King, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Seb Davies, Ben Donnell, Thomas Young, Lopeti Timani.

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Rhys Barratt, Ciaran Parker, Alun Lawrence, Mackenzie Martin, Jamie Hill, Arwel Robson, Willis Halaholo.

Sin bin: Timani (36)

Red card: Lee-Lo (15)

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Andrew Smith; JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade (capt); Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Joe Joyce, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.

Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Michael McDonald, Jack Carty, Tom Farrell.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans & Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

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