Connacht finish strongly against Pau to advance in Challenge Cup

Connacht battled back late on to defeat Pau by 10 points to set up a Challenge Cup quarter-final trip away to Benetton next weekend.

Bundee Aki, on his 34th birthday, got over for a try in the 65th minute to push the visitors ahead for the first time at the Stade du Hameau.

They had started the game well, Dave Heffernan finding sufficient space to touch down for their opening try.

Pau responded with a Sacha Zegueur five-pointer that was converted by Joe Simmonds.

Jarrad Butler then had to leave the field with a head injury on 15 minutes but Connacht were back in front when Cian Prendergast ran in after a pass from Jack Carty.

A couple of penalties had Pau in front and they extended their lead when Zegueur went over again in the corner to leave his side eight clear at the break.

Coanncht winger Shayne Bolton responded with a try on 45 minutes and Carty sent over the conversion.

Just the point in it but Pau struck again, when Ziggy Fisi'ihoi got through to score; Simmonds added the extra points.

A drop-goal by the latter on 51 minutes made it 30-19.

And then came the Connacht surge with Heffernan setting up Caolin Blade for a try.

After Pau's Jale Vatubua was sent to the bin for dangerous play, Connacht, inside the hosts' 22, went for a tap penalty and Aki got through to score. Hanrahan converted and the visitors now led 33-30.

A Cian Prendergast try in the closing few minutes, which was converted, sealed the win.

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