Edinburgh 38
Connacht 8
Connacht failed to build on a bright opening in Murrayfield and were comprehensively defeated by an Edinburgh side who took complete control in the second-half.

Connacht twice led in the opening half of this Magners League clash but the Scots got on top and blitzed Michael Bradley’s men with a three-try haul inside ten second-half minutes.

Connacht’s good start saw the recalled Tim Donnelly edge them in front after six minutes but Edinburgh hit the front after a quarter of an hour when Phil Godman got in for their opening try.

However, Connacht hit back and Donnelly was alert to make an interception near his own 22 before sprinting downfield. He offloaded to Danny Riordan and as he was nabbed by Hugo Southwell, Donnelly had maintained his support run to gather and get over for the try.

However, he was injured in the process and had to retire, making way for Connemara’s Troy Nathan, a Kiwi who is Irish-qualified.
Edinburgh then went ahead on 35 minutes when Godman put over a penalty from slightly to the right of the posts to go into a half time lead of 10-8.

The Scots dominated the second-half as Connacht lost their way and Edinburgh secured victory with tries from Craig Smith, Hugo Southwell, John Houston and Matt Mustchin, three of which came in a devastating ten-minute spell.

Edinburgh:
Tries: Godman, Smith, Southwell, Houston, Mustchin.
Cons: Godman (5)
Pen: Godman

Connacht:
Try: Donnelly
Pen: Donnelly

Edinburgh: H Southwell; S Webster, B Cairns, N de Luca, J Houston; P Godman, M Blair; G Kerr, A Kelly, C Smith; C Hamilton, B Gissing; A Hogg, R Rennie, D Callam.

Replacements: S Cross for Rennie, half time; M Mustchin for Gissing 48 mins; A Allori for Kerr, 57 mins; A Turnbull for Webster, 63 mins; C MacRae for De Luca, 64mins. B Meyer for Blair, 65 mins; S Lawrie for Kelly, 70mins.

Connach: G Duffy; K Matthews, M Mostyn, M Deane, D Riordan; T Donnelly, C O'Loughlin; J Lyne, A Flavin, R Morris; A Browne, A Farley (C); J Muldoon, J O'Connor, C Rigney.

Replacements: R Loughney for Rigney, 21mins; C Rigney for Loughney, 23mins; T Nathan for Donnelly, 25mins; M McCarthy for O'Connor, half time; R Loughney for Morris, 44 mins; B Wilkinson for Lyne, 44 mins; D Gannon for Browne, 63 mins; J Merrigan for Flavin, 64 mins; C McPhillips for Riordan, 64mins; R Morris for Loughney, 76 mins.

Referee: James Jones (WRU).

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