Cardiff Rugby’s dream of reaching a third EPCR Challenge Cup final on ‘home’ soil at Principality Stadium next month was dashed in Galway where they went down to a third defeat this season to Connacht.
The home side’s 35-20 victory in the Round of 16 came despite a brave second-half comeback from the visitors, who matched their hosts in almost every department during a free-flowing contest of eight tries.
Tries from Matthew Devine, Sean Jansen, Finn Treacy, Shayne Bolton and Paul Boyle along with a combined 10 points from the boots of JJ Hanrahan and Josh Ioane ensured Connacht, the No 1 seeds from the Pool stages, will have a home quarter final against Racing 92.
Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas and Josh Adams scored Cardiff’s tries while Callum Sheedy and Thomas kicked five points between them.
A charging run from powerhouse No 8 Jansen set up scrum half Devine for the opening hme try after only two minutes, but Cardiff desponded to lead 8-7 just before the break thanks to Lee-Lo’s try. Then an added time score from Jansen, which Hanrahan improved, made it 14-8 to Connacht at half-time.
Connacht struck first once again in the second half with Treacy’s converted try stretching the home lead to 13 points. Cardiff composed themselves, didn’t panic and began turning their possession and line breaks into points.
Thomas crossed for a try he also converted and then a huge 15-metre pass from Alex Mann put Adams over at the corner to make it a one-score game with 19 minutes remaining.
But that was as good as it got for the Welsh side as Thomas followed Josh McNally to the sin-bin and two more tries sealed the deal for Connacht.
TEAMS
Connacht: Mack Hansen; Shayne Bolton, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; JJ Hanrahan, Matthew Devine; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan (capt), Finlay Bealham, Oisín Dowling, Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen
Reps: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Josh Ioane, Piers O’ConorCardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Harri Millard; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (captain), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Alun Lawrence, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau
Reps: Evan Lloyd, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Ellis Bevan, Rory JenningsReferee: Luc Ramos (FFR)