Dave Heffernan scores first as Connacht beat Pau 40-30 in European Challenge Cup

Connacht staged a remarkable comeback to secure a thrilling 40-30 victory over Pau in the European Challenge Cup, with Dave Heffernan scoring the first of their six tries.

Despite trailing by eight points at halftime, Connacht showed great resilience and determination to turn the game around and book their spot in the quarter-finals.

Heffernan set the tone early on with a try after only four minutes, capitalizing on a penalty to give his team the lead. However, Pau responded quickly through Sacha Zegueur to level the scores.

Connacht regained the advantage with a well-worked try from Cian Prendergast, but Pau fought back to take a 20-12 lead into halftime.

The second half saw both teams trading blows, with Pau extending their lead before Connacht mounted a comeback. Shayne Bolton and Ziggy Fisi’ihoi scored for their respective teams, but it was Connacht who finished stronger.

Bundee Aki scored the crucial try with 15 minutes remaining, taking advantage of Pau being reduced to 14 men. Aki’s try proved to be the difference as Connacht held on for a memorable victory.

The win sets up a quarter-final clash against Benetton, with Connacht full of confidence after their impressive display against Pau.

Overall, it was a thrilling encounter with plenty of drama and excitement, showcasing the never-say-die attitude of Connacht as they continue their European campaign.