Frawley scores two tries on Connacht debut in 22-19 win at Benetton

Ciarán Frawley marked his Connacht debut with two tries, including the 77th-minute winner, as Connacht beat Benetton 22-19 in the URC at Stadio Monigo.

Ciarán Frawley marked his Connacht debut with two tries, including the winning score three minutes from time, as Connacht beat Benetton 22-19 at Stadio Monigo in the URC.

Frawley Secures Connacht Victory

Frawley's second try came in the 77th minute after Connacht had survived a six-minute siege on their own line. Sam Gilbert cleared down the right and replacement winger Shane Jennings gathered the bouncing ball before quick hands sent replacement hooker Eoin de Buitlear away. De Buitlear glided past a defender and linked with Frawley, who fended off the last tackler to score. Gilbert missed his third conversion to leave three points between the sides, but Connacht saw out the win.

It was a huge victory for Stuart Lancaster's gritty team against a stacked Benetton side who threw the kitchen sink at them in a helter-skelter game. Despite the 8.45pm local kick-off, the temperature was 19 degrees at the start. Both stands at the picturesque Stadio Comunale di Monigo were fairly full with well-heeled locals and a smattering of Connacht fans, while a new stand is being built at one end of the ground.

On a pristine pitch, neither side paused for breath, with quick lineouts, off the top ball and launch plays the norm in a blistering start. Frawley's first touch from one such launch play was nearly a 50-22, but Jacob Umaga did well to keep the ball infield when tackled by the chasing Finn Treacy. Connacht struck off another lineout move after four minutes. Cathal Forde trucked up after a good take by Sean O'Brien before going back against the grain.

Sean Jansen was the link for captain Cian Prendergast, who bumped and swivelled out of tackles by Umaga and Onisi Ratave to score. Gilbert surprisingly missed the conversion. Benetton levelled on 12 minutes when Bautista Bernasconi scored from a lineout maul, the Italian pack having applied increasing scrum pressure to win a penalty to the corner. Connacht's response was swift.

Rapid Try Exchanges Shape Match

Gilbert and Mack Hansen counter-attacked effectively before Hansen came off his wing to make further inroads. From the recycle, Frawley's deft no-look offload led to Francois van Wyk before O'Brien picked up sharply to score. Gilbert missed another kickable conversion. Benetton struck off first phase from a lineout inside their own half on 35 minutes.

Alessandro Garbisi worked a wrap in midfield and took the ball to the line to dummy and link with Matt Gallagher, who splintered Forde and Frawley to put Leonardo Marin away for a 40-metre finish. Umaga converted for a 12-10 lead. But a 50-22 by Treacy led to another try off a lineout strike move.

Blade wrapped around Forde to link with Frawley, who sped through a gap before dummying one tackle and taking Umaga's hit to score beside the posts three minutes from the break. Gilbert converted to make it 17-12 at half-time. Connacht finished the half with 14 men after Bernasconi theatrically clutched his face after a glancing clash of heads with Finlay Bealham. Referee Hollie Davidson brandished a yellow card to the tighthead.

An even worse decision followed early in the second half when John Devine was harshly penalised for side entry. The ensuing penalty to the corner led to another maul try for Bernasconi on 51 minutes, with Umaga's conversion putting Benetton 19-17 up. It was the hooker's second try of the night.

After Frawley misjudged a kick over the end-line from 40 metres out, a superb Sam Illo turnover was undone when Jansen's offload eluded Devine and Hansen could not regather, forcing Gilbert to concede a five-metre scrum. Somehow Connacht survived two scrum penalties and a host of resets, with Frawley and Paul Boyle holding up Marin over the line. Benetton had chalked up 70% possession and a penalty count of 11-2 by the 64th minute.

Replacements Propel Connacht Home

A big scrum by Billy Bohan, Illo and others, plus a brilliant tackle by Devine on Michele Lamaro, forced a turnover to complete a fine night's work. Connacht defended five scrums in a row, three of them resets, before lifting the siege through the superb Sean Jansen. Connacht's replacements made a significant impact, none more so than de Buitlear. It looked like their last chance had gone when he was tackled wide out and Mirco Spagnolo won a turnover penalty.

But nothing seemed on when Gilbert cleared from inside his 22, only for the ball to find grass and bounce high for Jennings to jump, gather and offload inside for Gilbert. Connacht went wide off the recycle for de Buitlear to glide past one defender and link with Frawley, who showed real strength in fending the last tackler to score.

Gilbert missed another kickable conversion but atoned with a thumping hit on Paolo Odogwu which forced a spillage, leading to Connacht running down the clock and Colm Reilly kicking the ball dead. Scorers: Benetton: Tries: B Bernasconi (2), L Marin. Cons: J Umaga (2 from 3). Connacht: Tries: C Frawley (2), C Prendergast, S O'Brien.

Con: S Gilbert (1 from 4). Benetton: Matt Gallagher; Louis Lynagh, Paolo Odogwu (Jean Smith 30-41), Leonardo Marin, Onisi Ratave (Ignacio Mendy 69, Smith 73); Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi (Andy Uren 71); Matias Medrano (Mirco Spagnolo 52), Bautista Bernasconi (Siua Maile 59), Simone Ferrari (Tiziano Pasquali 55); Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza; Giulio Marini (Sootala Fa'aso'o 71), Michele Lamaro (capt), Riccardo Favretto.

Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Finn Treacy (Sam Illo 39-51, Shane Jennings 75), John Devine (Josh Ioane 69), Cathal Forde, Mack Hansen; Ciarán Frawley, Caolin Blade (Colm Reilly 71); Francois van Wyk (Billy Bohan 49), Matthew Victory (Eoin de Buitlear 50), Finlay Bealham (Illo 51); Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy (Niall Murray 60); Cian Prendergast, Sean O'Brien (Paul Boyle 55), Sean Jansen. Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland).

Compiled from 2 sourcesCompiled by HeadTopics editors by cross-checking the verified news reports listed here.

The42_ie IrishTimes:Ciarán Frawley’s stunning debut try helps Connacht pull off away win over Benetton

This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.

Benetton Connacht Rugby URC Ciarán Frawley United Rugby Championship Stadio Monigo

Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines

Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Ciaran Frawley Starts at Out-Half for Connacht in URC Clash Against BenettonCiaran Frawley will make his Connacht debut at out-half against Benetton in the URC on Friday. Cian Prendergast captains the side, with Matthew Victory handed his first start.
Read more »

URC Team News: Connacht, Leinster, and Ulster Announce LineupsCiarán Frawley makes his Connacht debut at outhalf against Benetton, while Leinster head coach Leo Cullen selects four backs for the bench in the clash with the Sharks. Ulster welcomes back several Ireland internationals for their away fixture against Glasgow, with key changes across the forwards and backs.
Read more »

Return of Ireland contingent just what the doctor ordered for Connacht in Treviso clashAll eyes on Ciarán Frawley as Stuart Lancaster’s men aim to bounce back from Stormers disappointment
Read more »