Cardiff's European hopes hanging by a thread after Connacht defeat

Cardiff's hope of reaching the last 16 of the Challenge Cup is hanging by a thread after they slipped to a 28-19 defeat to Connacht at the Arms Park.

Matt Sherratt's side failed to pick up a single point meaning they need other results to go their way over the weekend to avoid a pool stage exit. If Perpignan beat Zebre and the Cheetahs pick up two match points against Lyon then Cardiff's European campaign is over for another season.

In truth Cardiff can have no arguments about the result with Connacht's forward dominance and their cutting edge behind the scrum proving to be the difference.

Connacht racked up a bonus point win thanks to tries from Josh Murphy, Joe Joyce, Byron Ralston and Matthew Devine while Josh Ioane and JJ Hanrahan kicked eight points between them. All Cardiff could muster were tries from Evan Lloyd, Thomas Young (twice) and four points from Ben Thomas' boot.

Cardiff started well enough with a period of pressure in the Connacht 22 which came to nothing. But the visitors dominated the first-half for territory and possession with the home side struggling to slow down the speed of Connacht's ruck ball.

Ioane, Santiago Cordero and Bundee Aki caused the Cardiff defence havoc with ball in hand with the hosts struggling to contain the Irish province out wide. It was Connacht who claimed the games first try when second-row Josh Murphy charged through a gap to run in unopposed from just outside the Cardiff 22 with Ioane adding the extras.

Cardiff hit back with a powerful surge into the Connacht 22 from loosehead prop Rhys Barrett who was brought down just short of the line before Wales hooker Evan Lloyd powered over to score with Thomas converting. Cardiff very nearly claimed a second try against the run of