Connacht announced their arrival among European's elite last evening, making the premiership leaders Harlequins fight every inch of the way for this opening night victory at the Stoop.
While Harlequins did enough to preserve their 100 per cent record inthe opening Pool 6 fixture, the story of the night was as much about the debutants, who served up a display worthy of this competition.
Although Connacht grabbed two tries to Harlequins' single first-half effort, it was the boot of Harlequins' outhalf, former All Black Nick Evans, which made the difference. Kept scoreless by Connacht for most of the second half, Harlequins finally put paid to any ideas Connacht had of giant killing when Evans potted two penalties in the last five minutes ensuring there was no eleventh hour reprieve for Connacht on Armistice Day.
The hosts enjoyed a 19 - 10 half time lead, thanks in the main to Nick Evan's efficiency in front of the posts, and he was quick off the mark when he potted the 35m penalty. However counterpart Miah Nikora was spot on with a similar kick three minutes later to level matters, and in a penalty-ridden opening 10 minutes Evans was once again on target after Connacht were pinged for not rolling away at the breakdown.
With neither side edging the scrums, it was a massive effort from Connacht in the third that paved the way for Connacht's try, providing the newcomers with their first sustained attack. Young Eoin Griffin found the gap before offloading to the supporting Tiernan O'Halloran who finished off to claim Connacht's first Heineken Cup try after 14 minutes. Nikora added the extras, giving the visitors an unexpected 10 - 6 lead.
It seemed to unsettle Quins who made uncharacteristic handling errors, and although both sides opted to kick possession, neither side profited. However Quins' big ball carriers up front started to make an impact and, and with Nick Evans providing the link, it was not long before the hosts responded. Quins settled for an Evan's penalty after Sam Smith was held up just short, reducing the arrears to 10 - 9, and when Connacht coughed up possession inside the Quins 22, and failed to deal with an attempted clearance, Quins reaped the reward. The Quins' big boys once again ramped up the pace, and eventually scrumhalf Karl Dickson squeezed over from the ensuing ruck, retaking the lead in the 31st minute before Evans added his fourth penalty before the break.
However the second half was as different story. Led by John Muldoon, Connacht rolled up their sleeves. Ferocious defending, particularly at the breakdown, blunted the home side's attack. Marler was thwarted from a try when penalised for crossing, giving Connacht breathing space, and they then wrested the initiative with three successive penalties. A clever cross field kick from Duffy provided the field possession before Eoin Griffin found Duffy out wide who scampered in for Connacht's second try after 57 minutes. Replacement outhalf Niall O'Connor converted, putting Connacht within two points of their more illustrious hosts.
Both sides created chances, but it was two penalties in the last five minutes that denied a deserving Connacht.
Harlequins: M Brown, S Stegmann, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, S Smith, N Evans, K Dickson, J Marler, C Brooker, J Johnston, O Kohn, G Robson, M Faasavalu, C Robshaw (cpt ) N Easter.
Replacements, T Vallejos for Kohn (15m ), B Urdapilleta for Lowe (32m ), J Gray for C Brooker, D Care for Dixon (49m ), J Gray for C Brooker, (59m ), L Wallace for Fa'asavalue (73m ).
Connacht: G Duffy (cpt ), B Tuohy, E Griffin, D McSharry, T O'Halloran, M Nikora, P O'Donohoe, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Ah You, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu. Replacements, T Anderson for Ofisa (27m ), N O'Connor for Nikora (47m ), E Reynecke for Flavin, D Rogers for Ah You (both 54m ), F Murphy for O'Donohoe (55m ) H Fa'afili for McSharry (65m ), R Loughney for Wilkinson (69m
Referee: Jerome Garces (France ).
