Connacht edge past resilient Brive

Connacht have held on to secure a 21-17 victory over CA Brive and keep up their 100% record in this season's European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Connacht were a point ahead of their French opponents at the top of the group after the first round of fixtures and they just about edged the play in a first half characterised by possession turnovers.

After Brive had missed a straightforward penalty chance to take the lead, it was they who did get themselves on the scoreboard first when Connacht fumbled a lineout and were shoved into touch and the French side took advantage for Thomas Acquier to maul over for the opening score.

Jack Carty kicked a penalty to cut the lead to two, and the Irish side turned the game on its head in the closing moments of the first half when the fly-half's cross-field kick resulted in Rory Parata going over for his second try of the tournament.

Carty's second three-pointer gave Connacht an 11-5 half-time lead, before a flurry of tries in a frantic first 10 minutes of the second period saw both sides add to their score.

First, Ben Marshall went over in the corner after the home side enjoyed a long spell in their opponents' 22, and after Benito Masilevu had replied instantly for Brive, a fine team move ended in Kieran Marmion extending the advantage again to give Connacht a 21-10 lead.

Brive mauled over from a five-metre lineout to set up a nervy finish, but the home side held on to make it two wins out of two.