Connacht secured their first Magners League win since October at the Sportsground. But it was a close-run thing against the Borders, and the match went down to the wire.

Borders are now completely cut adrift at the bottom of the table but they will feel unlucky having led 10-6 at half-time.

Mark McHugh’s two early penalties took Connacht ahead 6-3, with Gerry Law replying for the visitors. Law also converted an injury-time Dougie Flockhart try to round off the first half scoring.

However Borders ran out of steam late in the second half. They had worked their way into a winning position with Gregor Townsend’s try answering an earlier Adrian Flavin effort for Connacht.

Unfortunately for the Scots they couldn’t withstand a late surge of Irish pressure and shortly after Gavin Williams was held short Matt Lacey went over for the clinching score.