Bath Rugby went out 53-51 on aggregate at the Parc des Sports, Marcel-Michelin on Saturday after losing 38-22 to a AS Montferrand side who were at the top of their game, but Connolly insists that his side will now need to put everything behind them and concentrate on what is a tough climax to the Zurich Premiership season.
"The Zurich Premiership is still in our hands," said the Australian. "We simply have to move on and prepare for the trip to NEC Harlequins on Sunday. We have two big games left in the regular season and we must ensure that we are one hundred percent for them."
"I would say that the first half was the worst that we have played this season. Evidently our minds were not on the job."
Bath Rugby's tries came from Zak Feaunati, Danielli and Human, whilst Malone kicked two conversions and Olly Barkley kicked a penalty.
NEC Harlequins 25 v 22 Bath Rugby
2nd May 2004 14:00 Twickenham Stoop Zurich Premiership
2 May 2004, 12:00 am :: Match Report by Tony Ashton
Nec Harlequins 25 V Bath Rugby 22: Final Score
1 min: Penalty Try to Bath Rugby, Matt Moore deliberately taps down the ball when Bath have an overlap 5 metres out, referee Pearson gives the penalty try. Malone converts. Quins 0 Bath Rugby 7
6 min: Bath penalised for offside five metres outside their 22, Burke kicks a penalty. Quins 3 Bath Rugby 7
11 min: Quins penalised at contact area thirty metres out, Malone's penalty attempt is good. Quins 3 Bath Rugby 10
16 min: Bath penalised for holding down the jumper at the lineout, Burke again gets the penalty. Quins 6 Bath Rugby 10
18 min: Malone makes a break through the defence from a lineout on the halfway line, off loads to the supporting Lipman inside, Lipman feeds Fleck who beats the fullback and scores. Malone adds the conversion. Quins 6 Bath Rugby 17
22 min: Lipman penalised for an alleged late hit, Burke kicks the penalty. Quins 9 Bath Rugby 17
26 min: Sherriff for Diprose
30 min: Martyn Wood makes a good dart at the base of a ruck to take Bath behind the Quins defence only yards from the try line, Bath recycle and have a massive overlap for Perry to score Bath's third try. Malone's conversion hits the post and misses. Quins 9 Bath Rugby 22
Half Time
44 min: Bath penalised at contact area, Burke misses a drop goal attempt but play comes back for the penalty, which he scores. Quins 12 Bath Rugby 22
49 min: Evans and Worsley on for Davison and Jones
52 min: Bath give away a penalty at the contact area again, Burke adds the three points. Quins 15 Bath Rugby 22.
53 min: Mears for Humphreys
54 min: Catt for Perry, Jones for Dawson (blood)
57 min: Jewell for Moore
61 min: Referee Pearson awards the Quins another penalty for not rolling away from the tackle, Burke misses the penalty.
66 min: Dunne for Deane
67 min: Scaysbrook for Lipman
68 min: Bath Rugby get a rolling maul going but referee Pearson sees an obstruction, Burke misses the penalty attempt
71 min: Referee Pearson penalises Bath to give Burke another, easier, chance at goal. Burke hits the post
74 min: Andy Beattie doesn't roll away after making a tackle and receives a yellow card. Dunne takes over the kicking duties from Burke and kicks the penalty. Quins 18 Bath Rugby 22
75 min: Barkley for Malone
78 min: Fidler for Grewcock
87 min: After sustained Quins attack Keogh manages to burrow his way over for a try that snatches the game for Quins. Dunne adds the conversion. Quins 25 Bath Rugby 22
Full Time
Teams:
Bath Rugby:
Matt Perry; Wylie Human, Robbie Fleck, Spencer Davey, Simon Danielli; Chris Malone, Martyn Wood; David Barnes, Jonathan Humphreys, Duncan Bell; Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock (c); Andy Beattie, Michael Lipman, Zak Feaunati
Subs: Hentie Martens, Lee Mears, Alex Clarke, Olly Barkley, Mike Catt, James Scaysbrook, Rob Fidler
NEC Harlequins:
Gavin Duffy; Simon Keogh, Will Greenwood, Mel Deane, Matt Moore; Paul Burke, Scott Bemand; Ceri Jones, James Hayter, Jon Dawson; Bill Davison, Simon Miall; Pat Sanderson, Andre Vos (c), Tony Diprose
Subs: Cameron Dott, Mike Worsley, Laurent Gomez, Jim Evans, Luke Sherriff, Rob Jewell, Andy Dunne
Ref: Dave Pearson
Touch Judges: Paul Emerson, Huw Jones-Williams
Att: 7,870
