Connacht convincingly beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks 37-17 to secure their second win of this season, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks are still looking for their second win.
Following an arm wrestle during the first ten minutes of the match, Connacht’s Sean Naughton converted a penalty to edge the hosts into a 03-00 lead.
Four minutes later, the Sharks’ Fez Mbatha scored their first try off the back of a lineout-maul to lead 05-03.
Connacht responded immediately when captain Paul Boyle scored a try in the corner following brilliant interplay by Connacht’s forwards and backs. Sean Naughton converted the try to edge Connacht back into a 10-05 lead.
Sean Naughton converted his second penalty, extending Connacht’s lead to 12-05 after twenty-seven minutes of play in the first half.
Connacht continued to apply pressure on the fourteen-man Sharks, and Chay Mullins scored a second try for the hosts. Sean Naughton added the extra two points, extending Connacht’s lead to 20-05 with ten minutes to play in the first half.
With time up on the clock in the first half, Sean Naughton converted a third penalty to extend Connacht’s lead to 23-05 going into the second half.
A primary school move fooled the Hollywoodbets Sharks with Hugh Gavin cutting the Sharks' defence in two, scoring Connacht’s third try. Sean Naughton converted to extend Connacht’s lead to 30-05 with twenty minutes still to play in the second half.
The Sharks upped the pace and physicality during the final quarter, which led to the Sharks attacking down the touchline with Makazole Mapimpi scoring in the corner to cut Connacht’s lead to twenty points, with fourteen minutes still to play.
With eight minutes to play, Matthew Devine controlled a bouncing ball in the Sharks’ red zone to score Connacht’s fourth and bonus-point try. Sean Naughton converted to add the extra two points to extend Connacht’s lead to 37-10.
Not to be outdone, the Sharks set up a rumbling maul, and Emile van Heerden scored with five minutes to play. Jordan Hendrikse converted.
With time up on the clock, Sam Illo crashed over the Sharks’ tryline to score Connacht’s fifth try to secure a 44-17 bonus-point win for the men from Galway.
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 (c), 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, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Matthew Devine, 22 Bundee Aki, 23 Sam Gilbert.
Hollywoodbets Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka (c), 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.