MAN OF MATCH AWARDS FOR BUCCS DUO
CONNACHT created their own piece of history when defeating Munster 24-20 in a nail-biting Rainbow Cup game at sodden Thomond Park on Friday night. In winning it meant that the western province overcame all of the other provinces away from home in the same season for the first time.
After head coach Andy Friend “placed a few rockets up peoples’ backsides” following his team’s home loss to Leinster the previous week, Connacht were a different proposition on this occasion responding very positively to the challenges posed by both the opposition and the weather conditions. They dug deep to hang on for a tight victory over a strong and fancied Munster squad with young Buccaneers lock NIALL MURRAY gaining the coveted Man of the Match accolade.
Buccs had no less than six players in the Connacht pack, Murray (who played for the full game) and Shane Delahunt starting while Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham and the Masterson brothers Eoghan and Sean also performed heroics during the second half. Jack Carty too was introduced at a key juncture to steady the westerners.
Meanwhile, ROBBIE HENSHAW was in blistering form as Leinster edged out a dogged Ulster challenge to win 21-17 at the RDS. The Athlonian nailed the Man of the Match award with another typical storming display.
