In a game of little consequence for both sides, Connacht signed off a disappointing URC season with an expected victory over Italian visitors Zebre.
A carnival atmosphere prevailed at the Sportsground on a day when Connacht farewelled 12 players, but Andy Friend’s side still made hard work of claiming their ninth win of a season which saw them finish in 11th spot, outside the Champions Cup top eight.
Connacht had posted the first of their four tries after seven minutes in answer to Zebre’s fourth minute penalty. Marmion was the scorer, but big carries from Tom Daly and Cian Prendergast were key to this expansive move, and those same players were involved in their second try before Nail Murray went over for his third try for the province, and his first at the Sportsground.
Italian ill discipline paved the way for the next try after 24 minutes as Connacht capitalised on three successive penalties to touch. A Gavin Thornbury line-out take and drive was finished by flanker Eoghan Masterson, the centurion celebrating his final match in a Connacht jersey, along with Ultan Dillane.
However on the stroke of half-time the visiting fullback Lorenzo Pani crossed for a try to narrow the deficit to 17-8 before Connacht bagged their fourth on 50 minutes. A sweeping move, which began with Dylan Tierney-Martin in his first start, was finished by right wing John Porch to extend the lead to 22-8.
However changes to the Italians pack provided fresh impetus, and when replacement prop Matteo Nocera barged over, it narrowed the deficit to 22-13. Zebre, however, took control and were rewarded with just two minutes remaining when centre Lucchini dived over and Canna converted - not enough to deny Connacht on the day, but still an average performance that will need to improve next season.
It was a result which Andy Friend says summed up the season - "so frustrating, some brilliant bits, and then bits you look at them and think what the heck are we doing, that is the season we've had".
It was also a season of lost opportunities, particularly home games against the Dragons and Glasgow.
"We had too many could have, should have and didn't. We shouldn't be giving teams life lines through errors or the options we take. We're going to have to grow up," he says.
Although boosted with some experienced players coming in, notably Leinster backrow Josh Murphy and prop Peter Dooley, in addition to Adam Byrne and David Hawkshaw, Friend says it will help, but it is up the players already here.
"They need to step up, we all do as a collective, and take it to a new level next season."
Friend is convinced he has the team to make the top eight next season and Champions Cup, having slid down the table and now moving into the Challenge Cup, which could present a real chance for Connacht to win another trophy.
"I really do think we have the squad to make it. We've shown we can play footy that can hurt teams with the ball, and stop teams without it, but we have been too inconsistent about it. So it is definitely within our grasp, but we have to be the team that delivers it on a more consistent basis - so we get a pass mark because we had a 50 per cent succss rate, but we've got a bit of growth to do."
Despite the Zebre win, it wasn't convincing, and Friend admits to being disappointed.
"We have seen the good things we can do, and if we never produced any footy, you could say well were just not a good footy team, but we are, so there is expectation. Most of the errors are controllable, so the expectation is control, but we chose not to. My expectation is that we be can be more accurate and have better control more often, so I do feel frustrated."
Friend accepts Connacht has limited resources, but it is no excuse.
"That is what we have, it's not a crutch, its an opportunity for us to grow. We have to look at ourselves, how we are leading them, there is growth in that area.
"That is who we are. We don't have the budgets of others, but it shouldn't stop us."
Friend says a team needs a bit of luck to win trophies, such as Connacht's PRO12 under Pat Lam.
"Momentum went their way, and Pat and the coaching group did an amazing job and that is what we are trying to emulate - not exactly what they did. We are trying to play a brand of footy that is similar but different. Some of that worked this year, and on reflection we possibly gave too many opportunities to the opposition, but we'll come out next year with a style we think will help us.
"We will have a 4G pitch out that will be beneficial to us, to me it suits the game style we want to play and suits the playing squad we have, so those things wil help us. Another year playing this style of football will help us, and let's wait and see what it brings.
"We are not going to be the biggest squad, not this year or next year, but hopefully we will be the quickest and the most skillful squad and our game style will do damage to opposition."
Connacht v Zebre: Oran McNulty, John Porch, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Alex Wootton, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion,Dylan Tierney-Martin Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Niall Murray, Eoghan Masterson, Seán Masterson, Cian Prendergast Replacements: Colm Reilly for Marmion (50m ), Conor Fitzgerald for Carty (53 ), Dave Heffernan for Dylan Tierney-Martin, Matthew Burke for Bealham Sam Illo for for Buckley (59m ), Ultan Dillane for Thornbury (60 ), Abraham Papali’I for E Masterson(6m ), Sammy Arnold for Farrell (68 ).
Players leaving: Dominic Robertson McCoy, Tietie Tuimauga, Greg McGrath, Jonny Murphy, Ultan Dillane, Abraham Papali'i, Eoghan Masterson, Peter Robb, Sammy Arnold, Matt Healy (retiring ), Ben O'Donnell, Peter O'Sullivan.
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