Racing Union: BRADLEY STUNNED

INJURY-TIME agony was the story of the day at Sixways as a spirited Connacht performance counted for little in the end.

With boths teams on nine points before yesterday, the back-to- back meetings between these two were always going to decide the pool and the advantage now rests with Worcester as they prepare to travel to Galway next week.

It could have all been so different with Worcester hanging on to a three-point lead in injury-time when Connacht got a penalty just inside halfway.

Fly-half David Slemen saw his effort dip under the posts but while it was knocked-on by the otherwise impressive Shane Drahm, Connacht were unable to find a match-saving drop goal.

Then, to add insult to injury, Worcester countered and in the seventh minute of stoppage time their No.8 Drew Hickey burst through for a try which denied Connacht a bonus point.

A bonus point was the least Michael Bradley's men deserved after a superb display by their pack against a Worcester front eight who have taken the Guinness Premiership by storm this season.

They brought their pack into play at every opportunity, and were rewarded after 13 minutes when Connacht were penalised for bringing down a maul as the home side drove their way inside the 22.

Quick lineout ball was spread from right to left with full-back Nicolas Le Rouz coming in to race over for the opening try.

But Connacht met the challenge up front and their cause was boosted after 17 minutes when Worcester skipper Pat Sanderson was sin-binned for back-chat

Slemen slotted over the penalty to open Connacht's account.

Four minutes later they cracked the home defence when scrum-half Chris Keane sniped through the Worcester midfield from the ten metre line and Keith Matthews came on his shoulder to cross for the converted try, putting them 10-7 to the good.

Worcester finally opened the Connacht defence after several drives, with fly-half Drahm getting in for the try which he also converted to give them a 14-10 lead at half-time.

The sides exchanged penalties shortly after the restart before Connacht hit the front, with full-back Matt Mostyn's 62nd minute try to put them 20-17 in front.

But Dhram eased the fears of the home fans with an equalising penalty on 66 minutes and then edged them in front with a kick six minutes from time.

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