Connacht 32-17 Cardiff Blues: Alex Wootton inspires province to bonus-point win

Alex Wootton is now the top tryscorer in this season's Pro14 with eight

Two Alex Wootton tries helped Connacht to a crucial bonus-point win over a stubborn Cardiff Blues in Galway.

The wing touched down twice in impressive fashion to give the hosts a half-time advantage after Rhys Carre had given the Blues an early lead.

Corey Domachowski's score narrowed the gap but Jarrad Butler soon replied before Abraham Papali'i sealed the extra point with three minutes left.

The province sit nine points behind Conference B leaders Munster.

The Blues remain in fourth having missed the opportunity to leapfrog Scarlets in the table.

It was the visitors who flew out of the traps quicker on a typically blustery February night on Ireland's west coach, with Carre returning from international duty to drive over for the opening score as the Blues pack bulldozed their way to the Connacht line.

The forwards set the tone for the opening half hour, which was a brutally physical contest with little running room for the backs.

That changed five minutes before the break as Wootton spotted a mismatch on the left wing to slice through the Blues defence and put his side ahead.

The former Ireland sevens star has impressed since joining Connacht on loan from Munster at the start of the season, and had to wait only five minutes for his second try of the night; this time working off the right wing, stepping inside to find a running lane and extending Connacht's lead.

Replacement prop Domachowski answered for the Blues after 63 minutes, again profiting from solid work in the pack to crash over and reduce the arrears to just three points.

To their credit Connacht did not flinch as they saw their lead reduced, and quickly found good field position allowing Butler to dot down from the back of a rolling maul.

The fourth and potentially crucial try came after 77 minutes with Papali'i thundering over having only been introduced to the action five minutes earlier.

The extra point saw Connacht eat into Munster's lead at the top, as their provincial rivals secured a win over Edinburgh but did not manage to claim a bonus-point.

Connacht: John Porch; Alex Wootton, Tom Daly, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Gavin Thornbury, Eoghan Masterson, Jarrad Butler (capt), Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Oisin Dowling, Abraham Papali'i, Kieran Marmion, Sean O'Brien, Tiernan O'Halloran.

Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Owen Lane, Harri Millard, Rey Lee-Lo, Aled Summerhill; Jason Tovey, Lloyd Williams; Rhys Carré, Liam Belcher, Dmitri Arhip, Seb Davies, Rory Thornton, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Turnbull (capt).

Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Corey Domachowski, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Murphy, Gwilym Bradley, Jamie Hill, Max Llewellyn, Dan Fish.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Chris Busby, Peter Martin (both IRFU)

TMO: Frank Murphy (IRFU)