Connacht feels the Ciaran Frawley effect as Rory McHaffie flips script on Stormers

FRAWLEY MARKS DEBUT WITH TWO-TRY DISPLAY FOR CONNACHT

Debutant Ciaran Frawley’s 77th-minute try helped Connacht open their account in the new United Rugby Championship with a 22-19 victory at Benetton.

After the Irish outfit lost at home to Stormers last weekend, Stuart Lancaster’s side were heading for another defeat with Benetton able to open up a narrow two-point lead thanks to Bautista Bernasconi’s score early in the second half.

However, Frawley followed up a fine first try for the club with a slick finish after an excellent team move to spark jubilant scenes in Italy after a last-gasp win.

Only five minutes were on the clock in Treviso when Cian Prendergast put Connacht ahead, but it sparked a frantic opening 40.

Benetton immediately replied through Bernasconi before Sean O’Brien restored the visitors lead, but Leonardo Marin’s try and a successful conversion by Jacob Umaga put the hosts on front with 35 played.

Frawley had other ideas with a 37th-minute score backed up with two points by Sam Gilbert and while Bernasconi’s try after 51 minutes ensured Benetton held the lead for long periods of the second half, a brilliant move finished with three minutes left earned Lancaster’s men a bonus-point triumph.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.3

8

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.1

7

Entries

LATE MCHAFFIE TRY EARNS EDINBURGH FAMOUS WIN OVER STORMERS

Edinburgh secured a memorable win over Stormers in the second week of this season’s United Rugby Championship after a late try by Rory McHaffie.

A low-scoring encounter went the way of the Scottish outfit after McHaffie produced an accomplished finish with nine minutes left at DAM Health Stadium.

Stormers had looked on course to leave Scotland with the points after a late turnaround via Hacjivah Dayimani’s 66th-minute score, but McHaffie had other ideas, and Edinburgh were able to toast an excellent 17-13 win.

James Grayson’s penalty with 13 on the clock were the only points of a close-fought first 40 where the radar of Stormers’ Yaqeen Ahmed was off, but two penalties at the start of the second half put the visitors in front.

Paul Hill’s 58th-minute score flipped the script, with Grayson able to add the extras – only for a Dayimani try and Ahmed conversion to be enough to give Stormers a slender 13-10 advantage going into the closing stages.

There was still time for McHaffie to have the final word when he scooped up a pass and raced over in the corner, with Grayson able to kick the two points to help Edinburgh get over the line by a 17-13 score.