Connacht thrash clueless Sharks
MATCH REPORT: Connacht defeated the Sharks by 44-17 in the United Rugby Championship at Dexcom Stadium, adding more misery to the Durbanites’ woeful season.
The hosts outscored the Sharks by five tries to three, but it was the boot of Sean Naughton who punished the visitors’ ill-discipline and kept the scoreboard ticking throughout the match.
Whilst Connacht were clinical in most areas, the Sharks were simply woeful, appearing clueless in their approach to this match.
Their defence was shocking, missing 28 tackles for an 88 percent return compared to Connacht’s six missed tackles and 94 percent success rate.
Connacht, with a game in hand, have the perfect launchpad to revive their season, but for the Sharks, it will take more than just going back to the drawing board to salvage a season that’s slowly slipping away from them.
*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!
Connacht opened their account with a Naughton penalty from long range in the seventh minute.
A 50/22 kick by George Whitehead gave the Sharks an opportunity for a driving line-out maul from which they scored in the 15th minute through Fez Mbatha.
Connacht responded immediately through Paul Boyle after a break by Josh Ioane with the Sharks’ defence in sixes and sevens. Naughton added the extras.
The Sharks were warned for conceding multiple penalties at the breakdown before Naughton slotted a kick to extend Connacht’s lead to eight points in the 26th minute.
Following the restart, Jason Jenkins was shown a yellow card for a breakdown infringement, having been warned by referee Ben Breakspear moments before.
Connacht kept pushing, and the Sharks’ defence were found scrambling before Shay Mullins found space on the outside to score the try in the 30th minute. Naughton added the extras.
Naughton extended Connacht’s lead once more with a penalty on the stroke of half-time after the Sharks were ruled to be offside, with the hosts heading into the sheds 23-5 at the break.
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The second half remained scoreless until the 57th minute when High Gavin scored a beautiful try from a set-piece move, leaving the Sharks with a mountain to climb with just over 20 minutes to go.
Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi grabbed a try back in the 66th minute, but the Sharks were still 20 points behind following the missed conversion attempt.
Replacement Matthew Devine scored a bizarre try in the 72nd minute, converted by Naughton to secure the bonus point for Connacht.
Emile van Heerden struck back for the Sharks two minutes later from a rolling maul with a try converted by Jordan Hendrikse.
Connacht weren’t done yet. They scored their fifth try of the evening through replacement forward Sam Illo, which Naughton converted to seal a convincing win for the hosts at the Dexcom Stadium.
Scorers
For Connacht:
Tries: Boyle, Mullins, Gavin, Devine, Illo
Cons: Naughton 5
Pens: Naughton 3
For the Sharks:
Tries: Mbatha, Mapimpi, Van Heerden
Cons: Jo.Hendrikse
Yellow card: Jason Jenkins (Sharks, 28′ – Repeated infringements: illegal breakdown entries)
Teams
Connacht: 15 Sean Naughton, 14 Chay Mullins, 13 Hugh Gavin, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Shayne Bolton, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Paul Boyle (captain), 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Jordan Duggan
Replacements: 16 Eoin de Buitlear, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Sam Illo, 19 David O’Connor, 20Sean O’Brien, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Bundee Aki, 23 Sam Gilbert
Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaden Hendriks, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain), 6 Matt Romao, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane.
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Le Roux Malan, 23 Hakeem Kunene
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) and Jack MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
