Connacht scrumhalf Caolin Blade scored a hat-trick as the Lions lost a Vodacom United Rugby Championship shootout in Galway last night.

Meanwhile, Jack Carty ended Eric Elwood’s run as Connacht’s record points-scorer as the home side overcame a fighting effort from the Lions at the Galway Sportsground.

Elwood racked up 1 152 points before his retirement in 2005, but the mantle has passed to Carty whose 13-point haul against the South Africans in a 43-24 victory has moved him onto a career total of 1 159.

Connacht’s current captain, Carty also set up Tiernan O’Halloran’s 35th-minute bonus-point try, adding to earlier scores from Diarmuid Kilgallen, Shane Delahunt and Blade, as the Lions trailed 29-17 at half-time.

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However, Blade went on to register a hat-trick, meaning Lions captain Marius Louw’s closing try was mere consolation.

Carty and Niall Murray, who had a big influence on the lineout, both had fine games but hat-trick hero Blade took the honours as the official player of the match.

The Lions played their part in an entertaining, fast-paced tussle, with flanker Sibusiso Sangweni and Ntlabakanye having some decent moments.

Kilgallen’s opening try really set the tone for Connacht’s bonus-point winning performance, with halfbacks Blade and Carty making sure the hosts profited from quick ball.

The pack did the hard work, getting over the gain line, before a chink in the visitors’ defence allowed the young winger to accelerate past Jordan Hendrikse and dive over the whitewash.