Connacht Cruise To An Easy Win Against Emirates Lions

 

The Emirates Lions could no replicate their performance of a week ago and Connacht scored 6 tries to the 3 of the Emirates Lions for a 43-24 bonus point win.

A fast start by both teams resulted in three tries being scored within the first 20 minutes of the match. Connacht led 15-10 after the first 20 minutes, however, it was still an arm wrestle for domination.

Connacht started to dominate in the second quarter and scored 14 points to the 7 points scored by the Emirates Lions. Although Emirates Lions is not out of the match they will have to stop Connacht's speed of attack, Slow the match and starve Connacht of quality possession. Connacht led 29-17 going into the second half.

The match lost most of its energy in the third quarter with both sides making several mistakes on the attack. Connacht scored a try early in the third quarter, whereafter, not much happened. Connacht led 36-17 with 20 minutes of play left on the clock.

A try each in the fourth quarter gave Connacht a deserved 43-24 bonus point win.

Scorers:
Connacht Rugby: Tries: Diarmuid Kilgallen, Shane Delahunt, Caolin Blade (3), Tiernan O’Halloran. Conversions: Jack Carty (5). Penalty: Jack Carty.
Emirates Lions: Tries: Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (3). Penalty: Jordan Hendrikse.

As It Happened
02:10 Quick hands by Connacht gave Diarmuid Kilgallen the space to cut through the defence og the Emirates Lions for an easy score. (05-00)
04:48 Jordan Hendrikse converted a penalty for the Emirates Lions, (05-03)
07:47 Jack Carty converted a penalty for Connacht. (08-03)
10:42 Asenathi Ntlabakanye picked up a ball at the back of a loose scrum and forced his way over the tryline. The Emirates Lions attacked from a 5m lineout with Ntlabakanye finishing off. (08-10)
14:43 Shane Delahunt scored Connacht's second try after Connacht attacked from a 5m lineout. (15-10)
25:21 Caolin Blade scored Connacht's third try which was a deserved reward for the efforts on the attack. (22-10)
31:36 Henco van Wylk scored a great try for the Emirates Lions. The Emirates Lions were on the attack for several minutes before van Wyk danced his way over Connacht's tryline. (22-17)
31:36 Shane Delahunt (Connacht) was sent off with a yellow card.
35:14 A pass over the top by Jack Carty exploited the narrow defence of the Emirates Lions to send Tiernan O’Halloran away for Connacht's 4th and bonus point tr, (29-17)
42:14 Caolin Blade stormed a kick from Jordan Hendrikse down, controlled the ball and scored Connacht's 5th try. (36-10)
61:53 Caolin Blade scored his hat trick with the Emirates Lions' defence making it easy for Connacht. (43-17)
64:57 Marius Louw took a quick tap and scored the Emirates Lions' third try. (43-24)

Teams:

Connacht: 15. Tiernan O’Halloran, 14. Diarmuid Kilgallen, 13. Tom Farrell, 12. Cathal Forde, 11. John Porch, 10. Jack Carty (c), 9. Caolin Blade, 8. Jarrad Butler, 7. Conor Oliver, 6. Josh Murphy, 5. Niall Murray, 4. Darragh Murray, 3. Jack Aungier, 2. Shane Delahunt, 1. Peter Dooley. Replacements: 16. Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17. Jordan Duggan, 18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19. Leva Fifita, 20. Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Tom Daly, 23. Oran McNulty

Emirates Lions: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Stean Pienaar, 13. Henco van Wyk, 12. Marius Louw (c), 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Jordan Hendrikse, 9. André Warner, 8. Emmanuel Tshituka, 7. Ruhan Straeuli, 6. Sibusiso Sangweni, 5. Darrian Landsberg, 4. Willem Alberts, 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2. PJ Botha, 1. JP Smith. Replacements: 16. Michael van Vuuren, 17. Morgan Naude, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Morné van den Berg, 22. Manuel Rass, 23. Andries Coetzee.