Connacht open in style

Eric Elwood's reign in charge of Connacht began in fine style as he watched his side rout Newport Gwent Dragons 40-17 in the Magners League.

Fly-half Ian Keatley stole the show by running in from the halfway line for the bonus point score, before converting to complete a 25-point haul.

Flanker Ray Ofisa opened the scoring after just three minutes while the hosts also crossed through hooker Sean Cronin and earned a second half penalty try, while Will Harries earned a late consolation for the Dragons.

The visitors arrived with a string of injury absentees and never looked like improving their record of one win in their last 24 visits to Ireland.

Using quick line-out ball, Keatley invited bustling centre Niva Ta'auso through a midfield gap and he drew the cover before passing for the supporting Ofisa to round in behind the posts, Keatley adding the two.

The Dragons lived off scraps of possession and their indiscipline, particularly at the breakdown, saw them fall foul of referee James Jones.

Both Keatley and Tovey missed penalty attempts before the latter was the victim of a dangerous tackle from Connacht's new number eight Ezra Taylor, whose hand caught Tovey around the face.

Jones took on the place-kicking duties and he opened the Dragons' account with an effort that nicked in off the post, but Connacht dominated the next quarter-hour, getting the tricky Fionn Carr on the ball and pulling 13-3 clear through the boot of Keatley.

The Dragons lost their captain Luke Charteris to the sin-bin for coming in at the side of a maul after repeated warnings, and Jones was off target with a long-range penalty.

Connacht collected their second try when Jamie Hagan charged through at a ruck, off-loading one-handed for his front row colleague Cronin to skip past the despairing Tovey and in behind the posts.

But the Dragons managed to get back in touch before half-time as two meaty Jones kicks closed the gap to 20-9.

The visitors threatened further on the restart and Connacht lost Duffy to the sin-bin for not rolling away after tackling Charteris. Jones kicked the second of two penalty attempts to make it an eight-point game.

Connacht needed a response and they got it when Keatley made a slashing break through the middle. He kicked two penalties in quick succession, steadying the ship in a slow-burning second half.

Injuries to Rhodri Gomer-Davies and Taylor held up play, but hungry Connacht sensed more scores and a penalty try, following a series of scrum resets, was swiftly followed by Keatley's solo effort, which saw him brilliantly outpace both Tovey and Aled Brew for the line.

Space on the left allowed Harries to have the final say for the Dragons, however a worrying neck injury for Brew, who had to be stretchered off, added to their woes.