Connacht Rugby Cruised Into Playoffs With Win Over Lyon Olympique Universitaire

 

Connacht Rugby cruised to a 52-24 win over Lyon Olympique Universitaire in an EPCR Challenge Cup match scoring nine tries to the three scored by Lyon Olympique Universitaire.

Racing through the middle after 90 seconds, Ben Murphy scored Connacht Rugby's opening try.

Sean Jansen broke away from a driving-maul line-out to burst over for their second before Finlay Bealham barrelled over for a third.

Sam Matavesi muscled over to get Lyon Olympique Universitaire on the board, but Murphy bagged a brace to put Connacht 27-10 up at the break and secure their bonus point.

They continued the momentum in the second 40, with Josh Murphy muscling over from close range before Ben Murphy completed his trio of tries a few minutes later.

Jack Aungier added another, with Thibaut Regard and Guillaume Marchand crossing in response for Lyon.

Dylan Tierney-Martin and Shamus Hurley-Langton added two final flourishes to as Connacht qualified for the Round of 16.

Scorers:
Connacht Rugby: Tries: Ben Murphy, Sean Jansen, Finlay Bealham, Ben Murphy (2), Josh Murphy, Jack Aungier, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Shamus Hurley-Langton. Conversions: Josh Ioane (2). Penalty: Josh Ioane.
Lyon Olympique Universitaire: Tries: Sam Matavesi, Thibaut Regard, Guillaume Marchand. Conversions: Martin Page-Relo, Martin Meliande (2). Penalty: Martin Page-Relo.

Teams

Connacht Rugby: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Shane Jennings, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Cian Prendergast (c), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Oisin Dowling, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Cathal Forde, 23 David Hawkshaw.

Lyon Olympique Universitaire: 15 Alexandre Tchaptchet, 14 Semi Radradra, 13 Josiah Maraku, 12 Thibaut Regard, 11 Vincent Rattez, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9.l Martin Page-Relo, 8 Maxime Gouzou, 7 Marvin Okuya, 6 Steeve Blanc-Mappaz, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Félix Lambey (c), 3 Irakli Aptsiauri, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Hamza Kaabeche. Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Lyan Pakihivatau, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Killian Geraci, 20 Pierre-Samuel Pacheco, 21 Charlie Cassang, 22 Alfred Parisien, 23 Martin Meliande.