Connacht brave temperatures of -27C to win Challenge Cup opener
Last Updated: 14/11/15 12:06pm
Connacht opened their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign with a 31-14 over Enisei-STM in Siberia as Russia made its debut in the competition.
The game was played in Krasnoyarsk, where temperatures fell as low as -27C (-16F), but the Irish province were able to battle their way through the frozen conditions and claim a bonus point victory.
Points were at a premium in the first half with AJ McGinty booting a couple of penalties, and the United States international made it 9-0 with a third successful kick three minutes into the second half.
Connacht more than doubled their lead with two tries in two minutes soon after, captain John Muldoon scoring the second after Niyi Adeolokun had crossed.
Darragh Leader added a third try to make it 24-0 and Rory Parata made sure of the bonus point, but the home side did at least have two late scores from prop Andrei Polivalov to celebrate.