Connacht picked up their first win of the United Rugby Championship after a remarkable comeback against the Hollywoodbet Sharks at Dexcom Stadium.
Connacht got off to the perfect start as Dave Heffernan went over the line within the first three minutes for the game’s opening try, which Josh Loane converted. It looked like Connacht were in complete control of the game in the period that followed, with Piers O’Conor going closest to adding another try after a great line-break. Shortly after, Josh Ioane found touch in The Sharks’ 22 with an excellent kick. However, Connacht failed to capitalise and The Sharks began to find their feet in the game.
It took the best part of twenty minutes for The Sharks to lay a glove on Connacht, but they soon found their groove as they won a penalty inside Connacht’s half on the twenty-minute mark. Andre Esterhuizen tore the Connacht defence open to score The Sharks’ first try of the game, which Siya Masuku converted to level the score. Game on.
From here, The Sharks began to strut their stuff. Trevor Nyakane converted a penalty to give his team the lead, and four minutes later Andre Esterhuizen finished off a great team move for his second try of the game. Another conversion by Masuku was followed by a monster penalty kick from Nyakane, and The Sharks were dominating proceedings in Galway. Gerbrandt Grobler added a third try for The Sharks, which Masuku converted, and they went into the break with a 20-point lead.
Three minutes was all it took for Connacht to respond at the beginning of the second half, as Cathal Forde finished off a beautiful team move. Forde converted his own try and The Westerners were back in the game. They got another try back shortly after via Dave Heffernan, who scored his second of the game. Cathal Forde, who had assumed kicking duties from Josh Ioane, failed to convert from a tricky angle.
Moments later Shane Jennings intercepted a pass in his own 22 and ran the length of the pitch to score. Forde’s conversion meant The Sharks’ twenty-point lead at the break was cut down to just a one-point lead.
A period of sustained Connacht pressure followed as their tails were up. Sam Illo went over the line, but the TMO ruled it out for offside. The pressure did eventually tell as substitute Oisín Dowling broke through a waning Sharks’ defence to finish. Forde converted, and Connacht led by 6. With one minute remaining in the game, Cathal Forde kicked a penalty to complete the comeback for Connacht.
The Sharks did secure a consolation losing bonus point as Siya Masuku kicked a penalty. The match finished Connacht 36-30 Hollywoodbet Sharks.
Yesterdays victory leaves Connacht in 3rd in the United Rugby Championship, with a trip to the struggling Scarlets up next on Friday.