Connacht's second-half surge ends Sharks' Challenge Cup hopes

MATCH REPORT: The Sharks’ hopes of repeating their 2024 Challenge Cup heroics came to an end following a 12-29 defeat at the hands of Connacht in Galway.

The Sharks kept the scoreboard ticking over through flyhalf Jean Smith, who slotted four successful kicks at goal, with Connacht scoring a solitary try in the first half.

In the second half, however, the hosts turned up the intensity to score 22 unanswered points and book their ticket in the quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

The Sharks recorded the first points of the evening through the boot of Smith in the sixth minute after applying sustained pressure with the ball in hand inside Connacht’s half.

The Sharks, through smart kicking and attacking running lines, worked themselves deep into Connacht’s 22 metre area and won a couple of penalties.

They opted for the corner twice, but the decision backfired as the ball got turned over, leaving the visitors empty-handed.

After winning a scrum penalty inside Connacht territory, the Sharks opted to take the safe route as Smith doubled the visitors’ lead in the 20th minute with the boot.

Connacht hit back by playing the ball quickly through the hands as Shamus Hurley-Langton got a wide pass away to Chay Mullins to score in the corner in the 22nd minute. Sam Gilbert slotted the conversion to take the lead for Connacht.

Smith attempted a long-range penalty from just inside his half on an angle and slotted it to reclaim the lead for the Sharks on the 31-minute mark.

Minutes later, Smith nailed a perfect 50/22, but a moment of madness by John Devine denying Edwill van der Merwe the quick throw-in led to a penalty, which Smith slotted to stretch the lead to five points with seven minutes of play remaining in the opening stanza.

Connacht conceded a late penalty for obstruction following a high kick by Hakeem Kunene, which he chashed himself and opted for the attacking line-out, but a knock on whilst on attack made it all undone, which signalled the end of the first half.

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Connacht started the second half on the front foot with the Sharks conceding multiple penalties, leading to Cathal Forde crossing the line in the 47th minute before Gilbert reclaimed the lead with the conversion kick.

The hosts kept their foot on the gas, forcing the Sharks into making errors and conceding penalties.

Connacht opted for the corner and got their reward with a pick and drive try by Hurley-Langton in the 55th minute. Gilbert missed the conversion.

Forde’s brace in the 62nd minute following a linebreak left the Sharks with a mountain to climb as the momentum were fully with the hosts.

Vincent Tshituka conceded a penalty for a high tackle as Gilbert slotted his first penalty of the evening to stretch the lead to 17 points for Connacht.

Connacht slowed the ball down in the final seconds before clearing it to touch and seal their spot in the EPCR quarterfinals.

Scorers

For Connacht:
Tries: Mullins, Forde 2, Hurley-Langton
Cons: Gilbert 3
Pen: Gilbert

For the Sharks:
Pens: Smith 4

Teams

Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Chay Mullins, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 John Devine

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)