Harlequins dump Connacht out of Challenge Cup

Connacht 9-15 Harlequins

Harlequins crushed Connacht’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup with a 15-9 victory over Eric Elwood’s side at the Sportsground on Friday night.

Connacht needed a win to have any hopes of qualification from Pool One, but their hopes were dashed by some clinical kicking from Harlequins out half and ex All-Black international Nick Evans. On a cold night in Galway, neither side crossed the try line in 80 minutes and there wasn’t a single score after half time.

‘Quins enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half and indiscipline from Connacht gave out half Ian Evans plenty of penalty chances. He kicked five from six in the first half in response to two penalties from Miah Nokora and one from Ian Keatley to leave Connacht trailing 15-9 at the break.

Keith Matthews and Niva Ta’auso both threatened after the break, but Connacht couldn’t break down a stubborn ‘Quins rearguard, while Evans helped relieve the danger on a number of occasions with some massive touchline clearances.

Bernie Upton and Jamie Hagan were both sin binned in the second half and Harlequins comfortably saw the game out to leave them with an excellent chance of qualifying for the last eight and at the same time ending Connacht’s hopes of a good run in a competition in which they have an outstanding record in recent years.