United Rugby Championship: Connacht 22-35 Dragons

Dragons secured a first league win in Ireland since February 2015 with victory over Connacht in Galway.

Two Jonah Holmes tries and further scores from Jordan Williams and Mesake Doge were complemented by 15 points from Sam Davies.

Dragons had trailed 12-8 at half-time but produced a stirring second-half comeback.

Connacht responded with four Jack Carty penalties and tries from Mack Hansen and Conor Fitzgerald.

It was a first league win in Ireland for Dragons since they defeated Leinster six-and-a-half years ago. It was also only a second win at the Sportsground with the other victory coming on their first visit to Galway in May 2004.

Wales back-row duo Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright were outstanding as Dragons ended a run of six defeats and recorded their first win of the 2021-22 season following narrow losses against Leinster and Ospreys.

Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan made six changes from the side defeated by Leinster with captain Harrison Keddie, Basham, Greg Bateman, Joe Maksymiw, Rhodri Williams and Jordan Williams starting in Galway.

Wales back-row Ross Moriarty was ruled out with a minor knock, while Ollie Griffiths was also a late withdrawal from the replacements bench.

Connacht lost Ireland scrum-half Kieran Marmion to injury with Caolin Blade starting. Matthew Burke, Paul Boyle and Ben O'Donnell were the other three changes from the team that beat Bulls.

Dragons scrum-half Williams was penalised for an offside interception and Carty scored the opening points.

After initially missing the chance to double the lead in front of the posts, Carty slotted over his second penalty before opposite number Davies was successful with his first attempt.

Basham produced a few impressive turnovers to help Dragons create their first period of pressure with a superb counter-attacking score inspired by full-back Jordan Williams.

He collected his own deft chip before releasing Holmes, who finished the score as Dragons appeared to be taking control.

It proved short-lived as Wales lock Will Rowlands was shown a yellow card for not rolling away from a ruck, after South African referee Marius van der Westhuizen had earlier issued a warning to both sides about this offence.

Carty restored the lead with two penalties before Holmes denied Blade a try by expertly holding up the Connacht scrum-half, as the hosts led 12-8 at half-time.

Keddie did not return for the second half after failing a head injury assessment but it failed to derail the Dragons, with full-back Williams gliding over for a superb solo try.

Davies converted before his superb 50-22 kick provided the attacking platform for prop Doge to power over.

Connacht were wounded but reacted with a try from sidestepping wing Hansen, following up his stunning effort against Bulls last weekend.

Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou came off the Dragons bench following his Rugby Championship campaign and half-back partner Davies slotted over a second penalty.

Davies created a second for Holmes after the wing collected his chip kick for the bonus-point score.

Connacht replacement Fitzgerald crossed for the host's second try, before Davies chipped over his third penalty to complete the scoring and a famous victory.

Dragons fly-half Sam Davies: "It is huge. We know ourselves we are capable of this and it was just a case of proving it to other people.

"We have built a great squad over the last couple of years and we are now capable of coming to places like this and getting the victory, which we have shown tonight.

"It has been coming for a while and in the first couple of games, we felt as if we could win those matches but it was not to be.

"We have felt we are better than we have ever been as a squad now and we are looking to build on this next weekend against the Stormers."

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Ben O'Donnell, Tom Farrell, Tom Daly, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Oisin Dowling, Ultan Dillane, Cian Prendergast, Jarrad Butler (capt), Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Leva Fifita, Conor Oliver, Hubert GilvarryCaolin Blade, Conor Fitzgerald, Sammy Arnold.

Dragons: Jordan Williams; Jonah Holmes, Jack Dixon, Aneurin Owen, Jordan Olowofela; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams; Greg Bateman, Elliot Dee, Mesake Doge, Will Rowlands, Joe Maksymiw, Harrison Keddie (capt), Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Taylor Davies, Aki Seiuli, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ben Fry, Gonzalo Bertranou, Josh Lewis, Adam Warren.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU).

Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU), Nigel Correll (IRFU).

TMO: AJ Jacobs (SARU).