9:55pm Friday 18th December 2009
WARRIORS’ hopes of making the Amlin Challenge Cup knock-out stages came to a shuddering halt tonight.
Unbeaten Pool Two hosts Connacht completed a European double with a 19-7 win over Worcester on a chilly night in Galway.
Full-back Chris Pennell finished off a well-worked move to give Warriors, backed by a big travelling support, an early lead.
But the hosts gained the lead by half-time as skipper John Muldoon and Gavin Duffy dived over.
Warriors looked to mount a second-half fightback but the boot of Ian Keatley kept them at bay.
A late yellow card for Tom Wood ended a disappointing evening for Mike Ruddock’s men who must now concentrate on Premiership rugby.
The visitors began on the front foot with backs Alex Grove and Rico Gear making early bursts as Warriors looked to make a positive start with fit-again Matthew Jones pulling the strings.
But Connacht soon enjoyed spells of possession as they hammered the Worcester defensive line.
Warriors held firm and then a free-kick for delaying a line-out throw, plus play being marched forward 10 metres for dissent, gave them their best attacking position.
They made the indiscipline count as quick ball from Jonny Arr and Jones found Pennell, who showed good strength to dive over for his first try of the season.
Jones added the extras for a 7-0 lead after 23 minutes.
In response, from a successful line-out, Connacht drew a penalty as Warriors came in at the side and they slotted the points to cut the lead.
Then a clever offload found home skipper Muldoon, who evaded a tackle and scored in the corner to edge the team ahead by a point.
Big hits rained in at the start of the second period with James Collins and Jake Abbott in the thick of the action but the hosts still enjoyed much of the possession.
Concerted pressure created room for scrum-half Frank Murphy before space out wide allowed Duffy to score on the overlap for a 13-7 lead.
Connacht held firm when Warriors attacked and extended their advantage through Keatley’s penalty.
Jones had the chance to cut the lead from a penalty 35 metres out but missed.
Keatley knocked over a drop goal to secure the points before back row Wood was yellow carded in the dying seconds as his frustration at the breakdown grew.
Warriors: Pennell; Garvey, Grove (Rasmussen 75), MacRae, Gear; Jones, Arr (Frost 75); A Black, Fortey, Sourgens (Taumoepeau 45), Kitchener, Bowley, Collins, Abbott (Wood 45), Cox. Replacements not used: Page, Gilding, Lyons, King.
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