Connacht fell to their first defeat in the Pool stages of the Challenge Cup with a poor display away to Newcastle Falcons

Connacht conceded three tries and trailed by 21-0 after 21 minutes. Finlay Bealham went over twice to leave the Westerners trailing by seven points going in at the break.

Newcastle extended the lead to 14 points in the 43rd minute when substitute Josh Barton went over for a fourth try. Bealham replied with his third of the game. Caolin Blade thought he’d got a fourth try for Connacht in the 73rd minute but play was called back for a forward pass.

Pete Lucock sealed a fine win for the English side with a fifth try in the 79th minute.

Newcastle made a terrific start to the game. With only four minutes gone on the clock, their captain Michael Young went over for their first try. In the 11th minute, Matias Orlando went over for their second.

Connacht struggled to contain Newcastle. They were loose in the tackle and duly punished. In the 19th minute, Mateo Careras cut inside to go over for try number three for the home side.

Tian Schoeman made no mistake with his third conversion to make the scoreline 21-0 with 21 minutes played. Connacht were stunned but their response was brilliant with Bealham going over for a try seconds after the restart.

In the 31st minute, Bealham drove over for his and his side’s second try. Conor Fitzgerald converted to cut the gap to seven points.

Substitute Josh Barton raced through to go over for a bonus point try for Newcastle in the 43rd minute with Schoeman adding the conversion. Like the first half it was Bealham who got Connacht back in the game with his third try in the 53rd minute. Fitzgerald once again cut the gap to seven points. 

Connacht thought they had their fourth try in the 70th minute but Cathal Forde’s pass to Caolin Blade was deemed forward and the play was called back. 

Lucock went over for Newcastle’s fifth try just before the end.