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Page last updated at 19:50 GMT, Friday, 2 April 2010 20:50 UK

Connacht 22-21 Edinburgh

Connacht (11) 22
Tries: Tuohy, Keatley Pens: Keatley (2), Nikora Drop: Keatley
Edinburgh (14) 21
Tries: Visser, Robertson, Grant Cons: Godman (3)

Edinburgh flanker David Callum tackles Connacht's Fionn Carr
Edinburgh flanker David Callum tackles Connacht's Fionn Carr

Bottom side Connacht gained an exciting Magners League win over high-flying Edinburgh thanks to a late penalty by New Zealander Miah Nikora in Galway.

Edinburgh, with tries from wingers Tim Visser and Mark Robertson enjoyed a 14-11 interval advantage.

But fly-half Ian Keatley, who scored two penalties and a drop, grabbed an intercept try for the province.

Flanker Roddy Grant's converted try had Edinburgh 21-19 up but Nikora coolly stroked over the telling score.

It means Connacht extend their unbeaten home run to seven matches while Edinburgh have not won on the road in 2010.

Connacht, despite being without captain John Muldoon and powerful centre Niva Ta'auso, stormed into an 11-0 lead with winger Brian Tuohy getting a try.

Keatley, who had opened the scoring with a penalty, missed the conversion but then landed a lovely drop goal from distance.

Edinburgh, hoping to make the league play-offs, burst into life in the last 10 minutes of the half.

Their pressure was rewarded when Dutchman Visser broke through for his eighth try of the league campaign.

Then Edinburgh countered for their second try, switching play left and right before Robertson finished well.

Keatley left the Scots reeling, five minutes in, when he intercepted a pass on the 10-metre line and darted over for a try which he failed to convert.

Edinburgh hit back again as Grant crossed for a try which Godman converted.

At 21-19 up with 20 minutes remaining, Edinburgh were all set to finish the job but Connacht produced a dogged final quarter.

Their forwards built through the phases and won the crucial penalty which Nikora converted.


Connacht: Duffy, Tuohy, Nathan, Wynne, Carr, Keatley, F. Murphy, Wilkinson, Cronin, Hagan, Swift, Upton, McCarthy, O'Connor, McComish.
Replacements: Nikora for Keatley (64), Loughney for Wilkinson (49), Browne for McComish (61).

Edinburgh: Thompson, Robertson, Cairns, Houston, Visser, Godman, M. Blair, Jacobsen, Kelly, G. Cross, MacLeod, J. Hamilton, MacDonald, Rennie, R. Grant.
Replacements: Laidlaw for M. Blair (66), Traynor for Jacobsen (66), Ford for Kelly (40), S. Turnbull for J. Hamilton (57).

Referee: Leighton Hodges (RFU).

Att: 2,000



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