SKIP AD
A bitterly disappointing defeat for Cardiff Blues but congratulations to Connacht on securing third place and with it a PRO14 play-off and Heineken Champions Cup rugby
Loose line out, Cardiff blues keep possession but some home Connacht steal the ball back. Not sure how they have done that legally. Handbags
Evans boots Cardiff blues deep into the connacht half
Delightful Anscombe chip collected by Lane. He beats one but is tackled by Carty. Deliberate knock on at the next phase and penalty to Blues
Back to seven, Anscombe takes a snap drop goal, knowing the Blues need another try, he misses and we play on
Anscombe sends Harries over with a one-handed offload. 29-22 and in injury time.
Cardiff Blues playing for a bonus-point now. With a real battle for fourth against the Ospreys now, it could be vital
Connacht running down the clock here
Carty misses the conversion
Try given. That's a monumental blow
Looks like Connacht knocked on in the air, they hack the loose ball through and score . Has it gone forward off Copeland. We will see...
No idea what has happened there but that could be a Connacht try straight from the restart
Beautiful touchline conversion from Anscombe. 24-17 with seven minutes remaining
Driving maul try. Looks like it was Turnbull with the try.
Evans kicks to the corner again. We trail by 14 points with 10 to go
Cardiff Blues going through the phases and have advantage. Lots of indiscretions from Connacht
Another penalty after Connacht sack the jumper early
Huge scrum penalty earned by Cardiff Blues. They kick to the corner.
Lloyd Williams and Garyn Smith called into action for Tomos Williams and Willis Halaholo
Belcher and Carre combine well. Connacht penalised.
That is such a contentious call. Cardiff Blues players furious. They are awarded a five metre scrum
You have to be kidding. TMO is saying hand in touch. Fair play to Clancy who intervenes to have another look. We still wait
Jason Harries with the try - we go to TMO but it looks good
Williams with the snipe but a phase later the ball is knocked on
Boyle penalised at the breakdown. Cardiff Blues opt for the scrum not posts.
Jarrod Evans on for Matthew Morgan with Anscombe dropping to 15.
Scrum penalty and Anscombe kicks to the 22.
Anscombe boots the Blues account back into action. Claws back three points to make it 24-10.
Carre with an instant impact as he wins a turnover penalty. Anscombe points to posts.
Belcher, Carre, Arhip and Lewis-Hughes all on for Lewis, Gill, Lewis and Earle
Carty converts. That seven-pointer is a huge blow to Cardiff Blues . 24-7 now
A superb try from Jack Carty as Connacht go the length of the pitch.
Stunning kick from Anscombe puts Connacht on their five metre line but Connacht take the quick throw
George Earle with the turnover and now Cardiff Blues in possession but inaccuracies see them lose ground
17-7 - Connacht slot the penalty to stretch their lead to 10
Dillon Lewis the culprit and again it is a slightly harsh call of not releasing the tackled player
Connacht going through the phases in the Cardiff Blues 22. A testing period and Connacht have advantage once more. They kick through but Matthew Morgan wins the race
Another penalty for Connacht as Thornton is pinged for a high tackle. Slightly unfortunate but a fair call.
Second-half under way and Connacht have an early penalty. They kick to touch but make little territory
Connacht in the lead but with such a strong wind behind Cardiff Blues in the second half, will it be enough? Come on Cardiff Blues!
A great carry from Halaholo and we're in the red. Tomos Williams boots it out and it's 14-7 at half-time
Buckley pinged for a free-kick. Cardiff Blues opt for a scrum with 40 seconds remaining.
MASSIVE defence at the driving line out sees Cardiff Blues earn a scrum as Connacht fail to get the ball back. That's a big moment
Good line out and subsequent drive puts the Blues on the front foot but a loose pass sees Connacht win a turnover penalty. Unlucky break for Cardiff Blues and a big three minutes remains
A superb turnover from Dillon Lewis. The frustrated flanker-cum-tight-head showing his worth at the breakdown again!
Carty fires wide as he slices a straight forward kick. 14-7 it remains
Ethan Lewis penalised for failing to release in the tackle. Replays show he clearly did. Harsh call. Connacht point to the posts
They kick down field and considering the wind that is an outstanding clearance from Anscombe.
Lee-Lo looks to thread a grubber through but it's blocked. Halaholo almost snatches a turnover but the Irish are still in possession.
Connacht competing hard over the ball but the Blues are now in the Irish half. Aki looks to intercept a Morgan pass but knocks on. Anscombe thinks it's a penalty. It's certainly a contentious one.
Carty converts expertly from the touchline. 14-7 now
With the help of their centres entering the ball they finally crash over the line and Thornbury scores.
They secure possession and are edging towards the line
Blues having to play their way out of their own 22 due to the wind and Connacht claim a turnover to win a penalty. Such tough conditions here at the Sportsground. Connacht kick to the corner
Big hits by Cardiff Blues in defence and Robinson unlucky now to win a penalty. Ball comes loose though and Blues in possession
Aki on crass ball but well tackled by Lee-Lo.
Looks like the Connacht loose head is hinging in
Free kick awarded against Dillon Lewis at the scrum. Now the put in is with Connacht . Another reset
But the Blues are back under pressure as Aki somehow comes out of a breakdown with the ball. Look like the tackle was complete but he strips Ethan Lewis. Thankfully the ball is knocked on 2 phases later
That was Owen Lane's eighth try in nine games. Some strike rate for the youngster
Anscombe adds the extras and it's 7-7
Lane cuts inside and hands off his opposite number before displaying his pace and power to race inside the 15 and under the posts
BOOM - The Lane Train!
Tomos Williams looking lively once more and Harries making good yards on the left. More good play from Cardiff Blues as they play into a howling wind
Good carry from Owen Lane in midfield. Ethan Lewis also getting through plenty of work
CBL going through the phases. Anscombe changes direction and play continues but Halaholo's pass is intercepted
Derwyn Jones, on comms for Premier Sports, claims its the strongest wind he has ever experienced at a game
Good response from the Blues who reclaim the restart. Gill hits a good line off Anscombe and despite a kickable penalty it is turned down due to the gale-force winds and opt for a scrum
Their first real chance and they take it to grasp a 7-0 lead. Gareth Anscombe's "wow" sums up CBL's feelings about the pass
Try is given despite the dubious pass and Carty adds the extras. Connacht now lead 7-0
Boyle bursts through the middle of the ruck and offloads to Blade. Pass looks flat on replays
Lineout didn't look straight but play on. Looks like a Connacht try but a hint of a forward pass. interesting to see if we go to TMO
Good structure and ball retention from Cardiff but no reward and Connacht fire the ball down field with the strong wind behind them
Good carry from Halaholo takes Cardiff Blues onto the 22 after 20 phases but the Blues are penalised.
A chip ahead is caught in the wind, sitting up nicely for Josh Turnbull to take and put his side on the front foot.
another half break from Morgan almost unlocks the Irish defence. Blues still going through the phases. into a 15th phase
The conditions already playing a huge part in the early proceedings, as both sides find their passes catching in the wind. O'Halloran, looking to release Darragh Leader, throws a forward pass
Period of pressure from the opposition here but a good hit in midfield from Josh Turnbull forces the knock on on the 22m line
We remain scoreless here as Carty's penalty attempt sails wide of the mark.
Cardiff Blues forced to try to play their way out of the 22 here due to the weather conditions and Connacht eventually win a penalty.
Jack Carty gets the game underway. Cardiff Blues have opted to play into the wind in the first half. Good noise coming from the capacity crowd here in Galway
7 - Cardiff Blues now in the Connacht half following half breaks from Matthew Morgan and Anscombe
The home side head onto the pitch to the sound of Dropkick Murphy. Kick off just around the corner.
Cardiff Blues are led out here at the Sportsground by captain Gareth Anscombe
Connacht
29
-
22
Cardiff Blues
