Connacht suffer agonising defeat to Dragons

Dragons 17-16 Connacht

Connacht’s winless run in the Magners League extended to nine games after losing out to the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Thursday night.

Eric Elwood’s side got off to the worst possible start when Dragons winger Aled Brew linked well with centre Tom Riley down the left and touched down after only three minutes.

The Westerners responded well to the early setback, however and were in the lead after half an hour thanks to a try from Troy Nathan and five points from the boot of Ian Keatley.

A Tom Riley try, which was converted by James Tovey in response to a Keatley penalty for Connacht left the hosts one point (14-13) ahead at the break.

Connacht edged in front ten minutes into the second half with another Keatley penalty, but Tovey responded with a three pointer of his own just after the hour mark to give the Dragons a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

Connacht did earn a losing bonus point, their sixth in the competition this season, but they haven’t won in the competition since defeating the Glasgow Warriors in September.