Brive 31
Connacht 38
John Fallon reports from Stade Amédée-Domenech
JACK CARTY LED the way as Connacht came from 19 points down in the opening half to make it three wins in a row in the European Challenge Cup.
Connacht can now take another big step towards securing a quarter-final in the Sportsground when Brive visit Galway next Saturday.
Connacht made an encouraging start with a penalty from Carty after six minutes but their indiscipline cost them dearly and with a penalty count of seven to two, it was no surprise when captain John Muldoon was binned after 14 minutes.
Brive made the most of his absence and posted 14 points while they had the extra man with Portuguese hooker Mike Tadjer getting them off the mark after they went to the corner following Muldoon’s yellow card.
Scrum-half Florian Cazenave, wearing goggles similar to Ian McKinley after losing the sight in one of his eyes, scored just before Muldoon returned and they pushed it out to 19-3 after 29 minutes when former Munster prop Julien Brugnaut scored when he finished off a fine move started by right winger Nadir Megdoud
Connacht got a glimmer of hope when Tiernan O’Halloran set up Ultan Dillane for a try eight minutes from the break, with Carty converting to leave it 19-10.
It got better for Connacht on the stroke of half time when they were rewarded for going to the corner with a penalty and after a lineout take from Muldoon, Kieran Marmion spotted a gap to dart through and score under the posts with Carty’s conversion leaving it 19-17 at the interval.
Carty edged Connacht back in front with a penalty after 44 minutes but the lead changed hands three times in the opening nine minutes of the second-half.
Hooker Tadjer got his second try for Brive off another lineout drive but then Carty scored a wonderful effort, breaking from just inside halfway before throwing a dummy pass and then sprinting home. His conversion made it 27-26 to Connacht after 49 minutes of a cracking game.
Another Carty penalty pushed it out to 30-26 going into the final quarter before Cian Kelleher wrapped up the bonus point when he slid home after being set up by O’Halloran.
Carty added the conversion and then a penalty in an excellent 20-point haul as Connacht remain firmly on course for a home quarter-final in the Challenge Cup.
Brive scorers:Tries: Mike Tadjer (2), Florian Cazenave, Julien Brugnaut, Guillaume NamyConversions: Gaetan Germain [3 from 4], Thomas Laranjeira [0 from 1]Connacht scorers:Tries: Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty, Cian KelleherConversions: Jack Carty [3 from 4]
Penalties: Jack Carty [4 from 4]
BRIVE: Gaetan Germain (Matthieu Ugalde 66′); Nadir Megdoud, Sevanaia Galala (Alfifeleti Mafi 55′), Benjamin Petre, Guillaume Namy; Thomas Laranjeira, Florian Cazenave (David Delarue 66′); Julien Brugnaut (Simon-Pierre Chauvac 60′), Mike Tadjer (Louis Martin 72′), Demba Bamba (James Johnston 48′); Johan Snyman (Peet Marais 63′), Jan Uys; Poutasi Luafutu (Fabien Sanconnie 40′), Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Petrus Hauman.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran (Darragh Leader 72′); Cian Kelleher, Pita Ahki, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley (Pete McCabe 60′), Shane Delahunt (Tom McCartney 63′), Finlay Bealham (Conor Carey 49′); Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux (James Cannon 77′); Cillian Gallagher, Eoghan Masterson, John Muldoon.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys [ENG].
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