A disjointed and error-ridden Lions were no match for a Connacht side who dominated from start to finish as they suffered a heavy 43-24 (29-17) defeat in their United Rugby Championship (URC) match at the Sportsground in Galway. Saturday night.
Connacht ran in six tries to three of the Lions, but the lack of basic skills of the visitors that led to a big defeat because they lost their own lineouts, lost in, they power down and allowed the hosts too much space in a disappointing show.
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Connacht scrumhalf Caolin Blade was in sublime form for his team as he ran in a hattrick, while flyhalf Jack Carty pulled all the strings and nailed six of his seven shots on goal in a top showing.
Connacht got off to a flying start in the match when they charged up the field from the kick-off, got into the Lions 22m and found space for right wing Diarmuid Kilgallen to waltz into the corner.
Carty missed his only shot of the night with a conversion attempt, which allowed Lions flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse to cut the deficit to two points with a penalty on the kick-off, only for Carty to respond with one of his own to make it 8-3 after seven minutes.
The Lions then scored their first try in the 10thTh minutes when they attacked from the 5m lineout, closer to where the prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye picked up and powered through from close range, with Hendrikse adding extras.
A back-and-forth game resumed four minutes later after Shane Delahunt’s hook forced a run from close range as Connacht regained the upper hand 15-10.
At 25Th Connacht minutes were again as scrumhalf Caolin Blade surged through the Lions defense after good work on the visitors 22m, with Carty on target with the conversion.
The Lions eventually came back at 32n.d minutes after some top plays in the home team 22m, the center Henco van Wyk then took himself to overcome the line when he powered through the tackle, stepped the last defender and passed, with the addition of extras and the score 22-17 .
It was a double blow for Connacht as Delahunt was booked for cynical play before the try, but despite being a man down he had the final say on the half as a skip pass in the Lions 22m from Carty met fullback Tiernan O’Halloran in acres of space for go over to try to convert untouched.
Connacht essentially ended the game as a contest immediately after the restart, as a poor cleaning effort in 22m itself from Hendrikse was charged down, allowing Blade to take the ball and go through for the second time, as extras Carty gave 36-. 17 leads.
Blade then completed the hat trick in 62n.d minutes, shooting and sniping passes from close range as the Lions continue to wither under continued pressure.
The Lions were able to immediately respond after receiving a penalty in the Connacht 22m, center Marius Louw caught the front side napping with a quick tap to go over, when Hendrikse converted to make it 43-24 after 65 minutes.
If the visitors were hoping for a comeback, they were disappointed as the home side dominated the last 15 minutes, but the visitors’ 22m crowd meant they couldn’t add to their tally.
Goal scorer
Connacht: Tries – Diarmuid Kilgallen, Shane Delahunt, Caolin Blade (3), Tiernan O’Halloran; Conversions – Jack Carty (5); Punishment – Carty
lion: Try – Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Henco van Wyk, Marius Louw; Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (3); Penalty – Hendrikse