Search Results for 'Pete Wilkin'

There was a moment in the early stages of last Saturday's game against the Stormers that saw Tiernan O'Halloran - one of Connacht's finest home-grown talents, on his last ever home appearance for the province - split the visitor's defence and race towards the beckoning fans of College Road.

Precariously perched in ninth place in the URC with eight wins and six losses - Connacht's chances of a Champions Cup spot for next season, as well as a semi-final berth for the current one - have been bolstered by victory over Zebre.

Alessandro Izekor's last-gasp winner in the final minute of Treviso's win against Connacht added a touch of class to a strangely flat affair.

Connacht's preparations for a return to the URC took a positive slant this week with the news that a host of players will make their return from injury. The news comes ahead of their away fixture against Cardiff this Saturday in the Cardiff Arms Park.

The newly titled Dexcom Stadium witnessed an impressive performance last Friday night by a reinvigorated Connacht side. The result means that the EPCR Challenge Cup is next on the European agenda for the men from the west, and a trip away to Top 14 side Section Paloise(Pau).

Connacht's disappointing result away to Lyon means that Pete Wilkin's side will not progress to the knockout rounds of the Champions Cup after their third defeat in Pool A. Furthermore, chances of Challenge Cup progression are similarly slim going into Friday's game against Pat Lam's Bristol Bears.

By Conaill Muldoon

Connacht would have hoped to carry some form of momentum into their away fixture to Saracens this coming weekend. The opposite is in fact the case, and Mark McCall's charges will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to the Bulls in style against a demoralised Connacht outfit.