mens
United-rugby-championship
FRAWLEY MARKS TWO TRY SCREEN DEBUT FOR CONNACHT
Helped by a try from debutant Ciaran Frawley in the 77th minute Connacht open your account in a new one United Rugby Championship with a 22-19 win at Benetton.
After the Irish team lost at home to Stormers Stuart Lancaster’s side were headed for another defeat last weekend Benetton they managed to open up a narrow two-point lead thanks to a goal from Bautista Bernasconi early in the second half.
However, Frawley followed up a fine first try for the club with a superb finish after a superb team move which sparked jubilant scenes in Italy after the last victory.
Just five minutes were on the clock in Treviso when Cian Prendergast put Connacht ahead but it sparked a frantic opening 40.
Benetton immediately hit back through Bernasconi before Sean O’Brien restored the visitors’ lead, but Leonardo Marino’s try and Jacob Umaga’s successful conversion put the hosts ahead with 35 to play.
Frawley had other ideas with a 37th-minute score backed up by Sam Gilbert’s two points and while Bernasconi’s try after 51 minutes ensured Benetton remained in the lead for long periods of the second half, a brilliant finish with three minutes remaining earned the Lancaster men a bonus-point triumph.
LATER MCHAFFIE TRY EDINBURGH FAMOUS VICTORY OVER STORMERS
Edinburgh secured a memorable win over the Stormers in United’s second week of the season Rugby Championship after Rory McHaffie’s late try.
A low-scoring encounter went Scotland’s way after McHaffie scored a successful finish with nine minutes remaining at the DAM Health Stadium.
The Stormers looked on course to leave Scotland with the points following a late turnaround through Hacjivah Dayimani in the 66th minute, but McHaffie had other ideas and Edinburgh were able to toast an excellent 17-13 win.
James Grayson’s penalty with 13 on the clock were the only points in the first 40 close games when Stormers’ Yaqeen Ahmed’s radar was off, but two penalties early in the second half put the visitors ahead.
Paul Hill’s 58th-minute score turned the script and Grayson could have added the extras – only for Dayimani’s try and Ahmed’s conversion to be enough to give the Stormers a narrow 13-10 advantage in the closing stages.
There was still time for McHaffie to have the last word when he latched onto a pass and raced to the corner and Grayson managed to kick two points to help Edinburgh get over the line 17-13.
