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CONNACHT ARE LEFT kicking themselves after blowing a glorious opportunity for Challenge Cup glory when they again surrendered a big lead and failed to put away a Racing side who finished with just 13 men at Dexcom Stadium.
Racing, who had a man sent off after 13 minutes, wore down the Connacht pack and will now face Lyon in the semi-final.
Connacht, who would have had home advantage in the semi-final had they won, dominated the opening half but had to be content with a 28-24 lead despite playing with an extra man from the 13th minute after Fijian Wame Naituvi was red-carded for a high tackle on Finn Treacy who was about to score in the right corner.
Referee Christophe Ridley also awarded a penalty try which pushed Connacht 21-5 in front, but they were outscored 19-7 from there to the break by a Racing side playing against the breeze.
Connacht laid out their intentions early on, going for the corner with a penalty on the 22 after less than a minute and while that attack was held up illegally, they tapped the next penalty and Finlay Bealham fed Bundee Aki who got through a double tackle to score, with JJ Hanrahan converting for the perfect start.
But Racing hit back after six minutes with Dan Lancaster — with dad Stuart, the former Racing and Leinster coach in the stand — threaded a ball through which Naituvi beat Mack Hansen for a try.
Hansen and Aki were heavily involved in a fine move which ended with skipper Cian Prendergast scoring his first try and the penalty try and dismissal should have seen Connacht pull away.
But Racing, holding an edge up front, hit back and hooker Diego Escobar scored from a lineout maul down the right at the end of the opening quarter.
Aki knocked on in the tackle a couple of metres short of the line and then Racing struck from deep with Lancaster breaking and his grubber caused mayhem with scrum-half Nolann le Garrec pouncing through three defenders to score a converted try that cut the gap to 21-17.
Connacht responded and were rewarded for targeting the Racing left wing and Prendergast was sent through for his second try which Hanrahan converted from the right for 28-17 after half an hour.
But once again Connacht conceded, again off a lineout maul with centre Josua Tuisova scoring and Lancaster converting to cut the gap to 28-24 at the interval.
Lancaster reduced the margin with a penalty two minutes after the restart but was then short with another effort from 45 metres a couple of minutes later.
Racing then brought in Owen Farrell — dad Andy was in the stand — for Lancaster and with the Racing pack taking control, even scrummaging with just seven men, the French pulled away.
French tighthead Demba Bamba did the hard yards for Le Garrec to get in for his second try which he also converted and then Farrell landed a drop goal off the right post to lead 37-28 after 54 minutes.
Two more penalties from Le Garrec pushed the lead out to 15 points with as many minutes remaining.
Ben Murphy broke to score unconverted try seven minutes from time, while Racing finished the game with 13 men when Farrell was binned for a dangerous clearout on Connacht winger Shane Jennings.
Paul Boyle set Cathal Forde up for a try a minute from the end which Hanrahan converted to reduce the margin to three points but Connacht were unable to manufacture a match-winner in the final play.
Scorers: Connacht: Tries: Cian Prendergast (2), Bundee Aki, Ben Murphy, Cathal Forde, penalty try. Cons: JJ Hanrahan (4).
Racing 92: Tries: N le Garrec (2), W Naituvi, D Escobar, J Tuisova. Cons: D Lancaster (2) Le Garrec. Pens: Le Garrec (2), Lancaster. Drop goal: Owen Farrell.
Connacht: Mack Hansen, Shane Jennings, Hugh Gavin (Matthew Devine 42), Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy (Josh Ioane 14, Cathal Forde 15), JJ Hanrahan, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley (Peter Dooley 45), Dave Heffernan (Dylan Tierney-Martin 56), Finlay Bealham (Jack Aungier 56), Josh Murphy, Joe Joyce (Oisin Dowling 45), Cian Prendergast (c), Shamus Hurley-Langton (Paul Boyle 63), Sean Jansen.
Racing 92: Sam James, Wame Naituvi, Vinaya Habosi, Josua Tuisova (Henry Chavancy 51), Max Spring (c) (Donovan Taofifenua 70); Dan Lancaster (Owen Farrell 47), Nolann le Garrec; Eddy Ben Arous, Diego Escobar (Robin Couly 31-40, 69), Demba Bamba (Lehopoame Leota 63); Boris Palu, Will Rowlands (Shingi Manyarara 63, 6); Maxime Baudonne, Junior Kpoku, Jordan Joseph.
Ref: C Ridley (England).
Written by John Fallon and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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