Ben Murphy hat-trick helps Connacht secure top spot with a game to spare

Ben Murphy crowned a midweek contract extension by running in a Challenge Cup hat-trick as Connacht dished out a hammering to Lyon at Dexcom Stadium.

It takes his haul to seven tries in ten matches since his summer move from Leinster.

More importantly, the win guarantees top spot in Pool 1 even before Connacht head to Cardiff next weekend for the final game.

They ran in nine tries and while the French crossed the line three times, Connacht did enough to prevent them getting a fourth and keeping the pool alive until the final round.

Pete Wilkins' men bossed matters from the start and opened up a 19-3 lead after 18 minutes against a Lyon side who made 14 changes to the team which edged out Perpignan in a home relegation tussle last weekend.

Connacht got a dream start when captain Cian Prendergast intercepted a pass from Italian scrum-half Martin Page-Relo as Lyon attacked and he quickly sent Murphy away from the 22 with the scrum-half scoring under the posts when he managed to escape the clutches of winger Vincent Rattez to score under the posts after less than two minutes.

Page-Relo pulled back a penalty for a Lyon side who also came into this contest having won both their opening games when he converted from the right after Dave Heffernan was pinged for a maul offence to make it 7-3 after 12 minutes.

Lyon built on that but when flanker Marvin Okuya went offside despite warnings from referee Hollie Davidson when they looked set for a 50:22, Connacht made them pay. Out-half Josh Ioane found touch five metres from the line down the left and after Prendergast won the lineout, Connacht got the drive before No.8 Sean Jansen peeled away to score after 15 minutes.

Three minutes later, another good drive off a lineout ended after a few