Connacht (14) 14
Try: Ofisa Pens: Keatley (3)

Blues (0) 19
Try: Sowden-Taylor Con: Blair Pen: Blair (4)

Tom James of the Blues tackles Connacht opponent Andrew Browne

A late try from Robin Sowden-Taylor saw the Blues snatch victory against bottom side Connacht in Galway on Friday.

A try from Samoan flanker Ray Ofisa and three penalty goals from Ian Keatley had Connacht 14-0 up at half-time.

Three penalties from New Zealander Ben Blair hauled the Blues back and then a 35-metre Blues break was finished off by Welsh international Sowden-Taylor.

Blair added the conversion to move the Blues ahead of the first time and he added an injury-time penalty.

It was a familiar story for the home fans at the Sportsground as Connacht had let a 14-3 lead slip when losing to the Scarlets in their last home league game

They struck first when Keatley popped over his opening penalty after 13 minutes.

Then on 22 minutes, Cardiff were caught out as Connacht took a quick tap penalty and good hands out wide from the excellent Andrew Browne helped Ofisa through on an overlap for his try.

Keatley failed to convert but he landed two penaltties before the interval.

Cardiff survived the loss of hooker Rhys Thomas to the sin-bin as Connacht, searching for their first win in four league games, began the second period tentatively.

Blair kicked two penalties to reduce the arrears to 14-6.

Although they allowed Blair to boot the Blues to within five points, Connacht tightened up their disciplineand looked capable of holding on and gaining some much-needed ground in the table.

However, Sowden-Taylor and Blair combined in the dying moments to deny Connacht and notch Cardiff's fourth straight win in all competitions.

Connacht: Nathan, Bibo, Duffy, Matthews, Carr, Keatley, Murphy, Wilkinson, Cronin, Morris, Browne, Farley, Gannon, Ofisa, J. Muldoon.
Replacements: C. Muldoon, Loughney, Swift, O'Connor, O'Loughlin, Dunne, Deane.

Blues: Blair, Mustoe, J. Robinson, Sweeney, James, N. Robinson, Spice, Gill, T. Thomas, G. Powell, D. Jones, Morgan, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.
Replacements: Filise, G. Williams, Down, White, Rees, Flanagan, Czekaj.

Referee: G Knox (Scotland)

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