Watch: Peter Robb sent off with his first touch of the game

Peter Robb's dismissal did not prevent Connacht from closing the gap to the Scarlets to only two points ahead of their clash on Friday. Connacht boosted their Pro14 play-off bid with a 29-19 win over the Southern Kings despite Peter Robb's early red card at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday.

The Irish province were emphatically beaten by Edinburgh last time out, but tries from Colby Fainga'a and Tiernan O'Halloran inside the opening six minutes put them in command in Port Elizabeth.

Bottom of Conference B with just one win to their name, the Kings were given real hope when Robb was dismissed, after he came on as a 10th-minute sub and was red-carded after his first touch of the ball, for striking Howard Mnisi with a forearm when seemingly attempted to fend him off soon after replacing the injured Matt Healy.

There was only 16 minutes gone when the centre was given his marching orders, but Connacht were not to be denied victory, Jack Carty claiming a 12-point haul - including a try - as they moved just two points behind the Scarlets.

Erich Cronje's double was not enough to inflict a shock defeat on Connacht, who face the Scarlets in a crunch clash at the Sportsground on Friday.