Connacht will take an encouraging Challenge Cup first leg lead to Montpellier’s Stade Sabathe next Friday, after they ran in seven tries in a stunning 56-3 second round win at the Sportsground.
Australian Paul Warwick, who ran up a tally of 32 points in the westerners’ last European outing in Galway, struck nine successes with his right boot from ten attempts, for another impressive tally of 26.
The 23-year-old chipped in with a ninth minute try to start the rout. Warwick converted before returning fly-half Eric Elwood drew the cover for former Ireland Under 21 Conor McPhillips to touch down 11 minutes later.
Hooker Bernard Jackman's 23rd minute sprint saw Ted Robinson sprint over after a lapse from former Scotland international Gregor Townsend for the French side.
The visitors' only points came from the boot of full-back Frederic Benazech on the half hour. Michael Bradley's outfit were unrelenting and ran up a 26-3 half time advantage.
Matt Mostyn won a 45-metre kicking chase with Laurent Arbo to touch down on 29 minutes for Connacht's fourth.
Second half efforts from McPhillips, flanker John Muldoon and substitute Conor O'Loughlin - spliced with three Warwick penalties - saw Connacht deservedly over the half-century.
Montpellier's woes were compounded in the final stages as substitute Bertrand Guilloux was sin-binned for infringing.
