Samoa's Junior Poluleluligaga is tackled by Connacht's Eoin Griffin

Connacht's young side achieved a notable win over the touring Samoans in Tuesday's clash at the Sportsground.

Misioka Timoteo's try helped Samoa lead by seven and Falemiga Selesele then added a second try for the visitors.

However, Brian Touhy's try and Miah Nikora's 11 points left Connacht only 17-16 down at half-time.

Another Nikora penalty edged Connacht ahead only for Samoa to notch their third try but John Muldoon's touchdown helped the home side earn the victory.

Samoa weren't helped by indiscipline as their hooker Tii Paulo was sin-binned at a crucial stage of the game midway through the second half.

Eoin Griffin produced a man-of-the-match display for the young Connacht side who were without their Ireland squad members Sean Cronin, Brett Wilkinson and Gavin Duffy.

Coach Eric Elwood emptied his bench near the end of the contest by introducing Galway youngster Shane Conneely and South African prop Dylan Rodgers.

Granted, Samoa's side was largely a second-string outfit with the tourists keeping most of their first-choice players in reserve for Saturday's Test against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.

Connacht: T Nathan; S Monahan, E Griffin, A Wynne, B Tuohy; M Nikora, C Willis; R Loughney, A Flavin (capt), B Fa'amausili; A Browne, B Upton; E McKeon, M McComish, E Taylor.

Replacements: D Murphy, R Sweeney, D Rogers, M McCarthy, S Conneely, C O'Loughlin, D Fanning,

Samoa: M Pesamino, F Otto, U Setu, J Helleur, S Sinoti, L Lui (capt), J Poluleluligaga, S Lemalu, T Paulo, L Mulipola, C Slade, D Leo, M Timoteo, F Selesele, R Muagututia..

Replacements: M Schwalger, N Leleimalefaga, F Levi, A Aiono, U Mai, B Vaaulu, G Williams.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version