Bundee Aki inspires Connacht to first interprovincial win since New Year's Day 2024
Connacht defended like tigers in the closing stages to post their first victory, a 19-26 win, in five visits to Belfast.A performance bolstered by Bundee Aki winning the Man of the Match award celebrating on the double as he has signed a new contract in midweek.He may have just pipped Connacht's Finn Treacy to that award, as the left-winger crossed for two second-half tries.There was little between the sides in a first-half dominated by some big hitting defence as the provinces split 7-7 at the break.Connacht opened the scoring in the aftermath of Jack Carty and Bundee Aki making busts down the centre that eventually gaining the westerners a five-metre penalty.Attacking the line from a tap, Finlay Bealham provided a neat pop-pass that saw Sean Jensen cross for his ninth try of the season.The equalising try came from Nathan Doak finishing a sweeping downfield move that had begun with a David McCann turnover.The key break, though. was engineered by Bryn Ward who, crossing into defensive line on the right-hand side took out three defenders before off-loading to Doak on his outside.Ulster were unlucky on two counts not to take the lead early in the second-half, from Doak's passing on both occasions.However his first delivery to Iain Henderson was poor, and the second-row couldn't hold onto it. A second delivery following a flowing break was a scoring pass but this time Ben Carson couldn't hold onto it.This allowed Connacht register the first score of the half when Bealham crashed over from close range just before the hour.The visitors posted another try 30 seconds after the hour, Ben Murphy starting a counter-attack that saw Dave Heffernan feed Finn Treacy wide on the left-wing to score over a brave Doak tackle.A missed conversion left Ulster 12 points adrift but Bryn Ward's wonderful dummy out on his left wing saw him cross unopposed in the corner. The conversion was missed.But the impressive Treacy was to score again turning up on the right-wing this time, beating two defenders to finish in the corner, Sean Naughton knocking the conversion over with the help of a post.Angus Bell squeezed over in the 76th minute to leave the score at 19-26, Ulster expectedly having a lifeline but not one they could take advantage ofClick here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond.
