| Donnelly Kicks Connacht To Opening Win |
Connacht Rugby |
22 - 7 |
Dragons |
| Sportsground Att: 1,141 |
| Friday 21st September 2007, 18:00 |
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| Australian Tim Donnelly had a Magners League debut to remember on Friday night as he kicked Connacht to an encouraging win over Newport Gwent Dragons, only the Irish province's second win in the competition since October of last year. |
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| Connacht centre Aidan Wynne tries to break past Andrew Williams of the Dragons during Friday's clash in Galway |
| © Inpho Photography |
Donnelly, who signed from French club Brive in April, impressed on his competitive debut for Connacht as he kicked 17 points in a commanding performance.
Outside him, former Ireland Under-20 centre Aidan Wynne was superb throughout the 80 minutes, making a smattering of line breaks and always offering the hosts an attacking platform.
The Dragons, who have not won in Ireland since October 2004, looked like they might be about to end that poor record when they crossed for the game's opening try, seven minutes in.
Connacht's defence was exposed as Peter Sidoli offloaded on the hosts' 22-metre line and full-back Martyn Thomas, who hared up in support, chipped on and won the race to his kick to touch down.
Gareth McCarthy converted but Connacht quickly regrouped and Donnelly, who opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty, landed his second penalty at the end of the first quarter after good work from Wynne.
A dominant spell from the Connacht forwards led to Robbie Morris scoring a try on his competitive bow. The England-capped prop was thrust over the try line after returning flanker Johnny O'Connor had claimed a lineout ball and the home pack mauled the 25 metres to the whitewash.
Donnelly tagged on the extras and Connacht edged 19-7 in front for the interval as their new number 10 landed two further penalties. Starved of possession, the Dragons just could not reply. McCarthy had a 38th-minute penalty chance but he was wide of the mark.
McCarthy's place-kicking let him down in the third quarter when the Welsh visitors wrestled the possession away from Connacht, yet the hosts' defence was stout and the Dragons were simply crowded out of it.
Former Australian Under-21 international Donnelly stepped up to copperfasten the Connacht win when he floated an injury-time drop goal through the uprights to continue the province's remarkable run of never losing their opening fixture of a new league season. |
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| First half timeline |
| 4 | Connacht Rugby | Penalty kick - T Donnelly |
| 7 | Dragons | Try - M Thomas |
| 7 | Dragons | Conversion - G McCarthy |
| 21 | Connacht Rugby | Penalty kick - T Donnelly |
| 24 | Connacht Rugby | Try - R Morris |
| 24 | Connacht Rugby | Conversion - T Donnelly |
| 30 | Connacht Rugby | Penalty kick - T Donnelly |
| 30 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - D Gannon on for M Swift |
| 36 | Connacht Rugby | Penalty kick - T Donnelly |
| 36 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - M Swift on for D Gannon |
| Second half timeline |
| 41 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - D Gannon on for A Farley |
| 41 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - C Rigney on for J Muldoon |
| 50 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - R Loughney on for R Morris |
| 50 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - M McCarthy on for J O'Connor |
| 52 | Dragons | Substitution - L Charteris on for A Hall |
| 60 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - J Fogarty on for A Flavin |
| 60 | Dragons | Substitution - H Gustafson on for A Black |
| 60 | Dragons | Substitution - W Evans on for A Williams |
| 61 | Dragons | Substitution - D Lydiate on for J Ringer |
| 66 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - R Morris on for R Loughney |
| 67 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - C O'Loughlin on for C McPhillips |
| 72 | Dragons | Substitution - B Daly on for S Jones |
| 75 | Connacht Rugby | Substitution - D Riordan on for M Deane |
| 75 | Dragons | Substitution - N Fitisemanu on for J Bearman |
| 80 +3 | Connacht Rugby | Drop kick - T Donnelly |
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