Sam Hobbs’s late try salvaged a 24-24 draw for Cardiff Blues after Connacht’s early second-half onslaught in an enthralling GUINNESS PRO12 encounter at the Sportsground. With the game poised at 10-10 at the break, Connacht crossed twice in four minutes through Kieran Marmion and Nathan White to stun the visitors before the Blues fought back through Macauley Cook and Hobbs. Connacht fly-half Jack Carty then had a late drop-goal blocked as Cardiff denied Pat Lam’s side the chance to get back to winning ways after last week’s defeat to Glasgow Warriors. Robbie Henshaw responded for Connacht after Adam Thomas’ early try before their second-half blitz was cancelled out by the Welsh region’s late show. Despite man-of-the-match Craig Ronaldson, replacing the rested Dave McSharry, kicking four from four, Connacht were left to rue a missed opportunity to secure a third straight home win for the first time since early 2013. The hosts started brightly, forcing their way into the Blues’ 22 and retaining the ball to win a penalty that Ronaldson landed to give his side a 3-0 lead on five minutes. Cardiff centre Cory Allen then countered after a loose kick by Connacht full-back Darragh Leader only for Henshaw to win a penalty at the breakdown as the Blues held on. Mark Hammett’s side came again, with scrum-half Lewis Jones breaking clear before he was hauled down by Danie Poolman and Darragh Leader a metre short of the line. The Welsh region caught out the hosts as Dan Fish – making his 50th appearance for the club – combined with Allen to force Niyi Adeolokun to touch down in his own area. Full-back Thomas then picked a great line to collect scrum-half Jones’ short pass and break Henshaw’s tackle to cross a few phases on from the scrum five. Rhys Patchell, returning to fly-half to allow Thomas to slot in at 15, added the extras to put his side 7-3 ahead after 20 minutes. The hosts almost responded in kind as Henshaw intercepted a loose offload by Manoa Vosawai to break out and find Poolman, only for the winger’s pass to hooker Dave Heffernan to go to ground. Connacht had their try moments later though, securing a five metre lineout with Poolman tackled just short before Henshaw darted back left and reached for the line. After the TMO confirmed the outside centre’s grounding, his midfield partner Ronaldson added the conversion to make it 10-7 after 33 minutes. The Blues levelled before the break as Connacht were penalised at the breakdown and Patchell slotted the resulting penalty from 42 metres out. A deft miss pass by the fly-half then almost put his side ahead on the stroke of half-time but Allen’s ball to lock Jarrad Hoeata went to ground. Shortly after the interval, returning Connacht flanker Willie Faloon broke down the blindside of a rolling maul to feed scrum-half Marmion who stepped Fish to score in the corner, with Ronaldson adding the extras. Only three minutes later, Connacht crossed again as another maul off a five metre lineout allowed tight-head White to muscle his way over with Ronaldson landing another impressive touchline conversion. Connacht came close to a bonus point try when back row Eoin McKeon, on for Faloon, chipped over Thomas and forced Jones to concede a scrum five before the visitors cleared their lines. The Blues then set up a dramatic last ten minutes as Cook dived under the posts from close range after an attacking scrum and Patchell added the conversion to make it a seven-point game. The visitors surged forward in the final minute and recycled the ball through 32 phases for Hobbs to ground at the base of the post with Patchell adding the conversion after a long deliberation by the TMO before Carty failed with his late attempt. Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to ourYouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for ournewsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12
