Lions 33
Connacht 21
Connacht failed to deliver a second win in South Africa when they came up against a confident home side that was on a roll with five successive victories.
In coming up short in Johannesburg after a last week’s win over the Stormers, Connacht remain outside the BKT URC top eight, but still hopeful they can make the play-offs with two games remaining against Munster and Edinburgh.
“A couple of decisions did not go our way, so it’s not season defining for us. We will regroup and go against Munster in two weeks time,” says captain Cian Prendergast.
“In the first half we put ourselves under a little too much pressure with unforced errors, and they got some break-down turnovers. We know they are a great side over the ball, so I think we gave them too much access in those areas.
Connacht were not help ed by missing a handful of exprienced players, including Bundee Aki, Dave Heffernan, Cathal Forde, Mack Hansen and Caolin Blade, and in a poor start they found themselves behind by 21-0 lead at the break - the home side having delivered three tries from three entrants to their 22. And Connacht, with double the possession of their opponents, simply could not make it pay with points on the board.
They were on ball within minutes of the start, taking advantage when prop SJ Kotze broke through a gap between Jack Aungier and Peter Dooley to send rightwing Angelo Davies over within four minutes, with outhalf Chris Smith adding the extras.
It took 14 minutes before Connacht were able to get up to speed at high altitude, but they struggled to maintain any sustained period of possession and lacked the necessary cutting edge.
Instead the home side delivered a second try through Henco van Wyk with prop Ntlabakange making the critical break, and Smith’s conversion put them 14-0 in front.
Connacht carved their chances, but lacked the clinical edge to score, particularly with a knock-on at the line. Similar opportunities went abegging before the Lions wrested some control and made it count with a try from Sibabalwe Mahashe with Smith converting.
The second half began with Connacht handing possession to the Lions, although good work from Nialll Murray at the breakdown provided some relief, it did not last long. When Henco Van Wyk sent Erich Cronje through for a 28-0 lead, it was all over for Connacht.
However, a yellow card to Kotze provided Connacht with an opportunity to score, and they made it count after 49 minutes. From a penalty to touch five metres out, Prendergast instigate the drive to the line. It took several attempts to make it pay, Paul Boyle and Billy Bohan were just repelled, but eventually it was scrumhalf Matthew Devine who dived over, with Sam Gilbert adding the conversion.
It certainly gave Connacht the boost they needed, and when the home side was stymied with a knock-on just shy of the line, it provided Lancaster’s outfit with a reprieve.
However, the Lions continued to take advantage, particularly through their kicking game, and they should have scored again, but for Shane Bolton’s steal shy of the Connacht line.
And the home side’s attacking game was just as effective - their offloading game had Connacht under pressure and when Henco van Wyk added the hosts fifth try, it was all over for Connacht, having been denied a try for a knock-on. However, in a bid to add to their points, Devine added a second to his tally with Gilbert converting, and Paul Boyle struck for third try. It was too late to deliver a win or any points from a difficult assignment in the High Veld, but does improve their points difference on the URC table.
Connacht:Yellow cards: Lions, SK Kotze 48m
Lions: Q Horn, A Davids, H van Wyk, R Kriel, E Cronjé, C Smith, M van den Berg, F Horn (C ), B Hlekani, S Mahashe, D Landsberg, R Venter, A Ntlabakanye, PJ Botha, S Kotze. Replacements, E Davids (53-58m ), R Nothnagle for Venter (60m ), M Brandon for Botha; S Lombard for Ntlabakanye, K Mpeku for Davids (all 62m ), S Qoma for Lansberg (69m ),
Connacht: S Gilbert, H West, Gavin, S Jennings, J Carty, C Reilly, P Dooley, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier, N Murray, J Joyce, C Prndergast (c ), S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle. Replacements, M Devine for Reilly, B Bohan for P Dooley, M Victory for D Tierney-Martin, F Barrett for J Aungier, D Murray for Joyce, S Jansen for Hurley-Langton, S Naughton for Carty (all 45m ); S Bolton for Gavin (57m ) ; D Tierney-Martin for M Victory (80m ).
Referee: F Russo (Italy ).
