Connacht outscore Saracens in 13-try Champions Cup thriller
Connacht beat Saracens 45-36 in their opening Investec Champions Cup pool game in Galway on Saturday, 17 October. The Irish province scored seven tries to take a full-house win from a 13-try shootout BBC Sport.
The Champions Cup is Europe's top club competition. Teams start in pools, with results and bonus points deciding who reaches the knockouts. Connacht could hardly have asked for a louder start.
The match was played at Dexcom Stadium in Galway, Ireland. The first half finished locked at 19-19. The second half did not slow down.
Cian Prendergast and Ciaran Frawley led the way for the hosts with two tries each. Connacht's other scores came from Forde, Hurley-Langton and Blade in a display of sharp finishing and sustained pressure.
Saracens stayed in the fight throughout. Vaenuku scored twice, with Caluori, Tompkins, Segun and Daly also crossing. A try is worth five points, with a kicked conversion adding two more.
That detail mattered at the death. Elliot Daly's late try gave Owen Farrell a kick to snatch a losing bonus point, an extra table point earned for losing by seven points or fewer. Farrell missed. Saracens left with nothing.
Elsewhere on Saturday, La Rochelle beat the Lions 31-14 in Pool Two BBC Sport. It was another reminder of how unforgiving the pool stage can be for visiting sides.
What makes this stand out is the sheer volume of scores. Thirteen tries in one game points to two attacks in full flow and two defences stretched to breaking point. For fans, this means Connacht bank early momentum at home while Saracens must now chase points on the road.
