Eire Sevens star Andrew Smith helped Connacht preserve their Investec Champions Cup hopes alive as they beat 14-player Bristol to lastly open their account.
Smith scored the fourth attempt in a 27-10 bonus level Pool 1 victory on the Dexcom Stadium with Shayne Bolton, Jack Aungier and Caolin Blade having crossed earlier on an evening when the Bears had been a person down for 67 minutes after Josh Caulfield’s dismissal for a stamp on Eire prop Finlay Bealham.
Connacht, searching for their first level of the marketing campaign of their fourth recreation, obtained off to the right begin when winger Bolton crossed with simply seven minutes gone, they usually had been handed an additional enhance six minutes later when Bears lock Caulfield was despatched off for a stamp on Bealham.
Fellow entrance rower Aungier doubled the house aspect’s lead with 20 minutes gone and stand-off JJ Hanrahan added the conversion as England prop Kyle Sinckler headed for the sin bin for an offence in the course of the build-up.
AJ MacGinty lowered the deficit with a penalty as Sinckler returned, however the Irish province went in on the break 17-3 forward courtesy of scrum-half Blade’s jinking run, though it took a last-gasp sort out from David Hawkshaw to forestall Harry Randall from dragging the guests again into it.
Smith noticed an early second-half attempt dominated out for a toe in contact after a prolonged evaluate, however he was to not be denied and crossed from alternative fly-half Jack Carty’s move to safe the bonus level with Carty changing efficiently.
Bristol centre Kalaveti Ravouvou was adjudged to have misplaced management of the ball as he touched down and the guests made a late push throughout which they mauled the ball in the direction of the Connacht line, however collapsed as the house aspect responded.
Sinckler spilled the ball inches out after a fast tap-penalty arrange a late likelihood, however after Carty had kicked a late penalty, the Bears pack made the strain inform as Connacht collapsed a maul and conceded a penalty attempt.
Glasgow defeat Toulon to make final 16
Two tries apiece from Huw Jones and Kyle Rowe helped Glasgow Warriors to a 29-5 win over Toulon and into the final 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.
Franco Smith’s aspect needed to win to ensure their passage out of the pool stage they usually landed a complete of 5 tries to get the job executed with a bit to spare.
Toulon threatened a comeback when Gail Drean scored early within the second half however Warriors hit again to win comfortably.
Glasgow welcomed again Kyle Steyn and Jack Dempsey from long-term harm and handed a primary begin to Max Williamson within the second row.
A much-changed Toulon choice noticed Scotland scrum-half Ben White rested, though former Scotland back-rower Cornell du Preez was named among the many replacements.