FULL TIME: SHARKS 12 -13 CONNACHT
The self-destructive Sharks shoot themselves in the foot once again. The Sharks made errors that a side at this level cannot afford. Connacht played the percentages well and deserved their win.
The Sharks need to find some attacking rhythm but they end up letting the ball slip away and Connacht have an attacking scrum. More handling errors haunt the Sharks.
Chamberlain has to kick to touch and finds it on halfway where Connacht will feed the lineout.
Chamberlain missed the kick at goal.
Am does well to earn the Sharks a penalty inside the Connacht 22.
Connacht throw a forward pass into the referee but he doesn't see it and awards a scrum to Connacht.
PENALTY, CONNACHT, HANRAHAN, 12-13:
Hanrahan slots the kick.
Bosch backs himself to go on the outside and gets exposed and gives away a penalty. Connacht call for the shot at goal.
Ralston does brilliantly to gather a kick on the ground but then knocks on as he tries to place it. The Sharks have the scrum feed just inside their own half.
The Sharks get on the ball as Connacht look rusty on attack now and the penalty allows them to take play back into the Connacht half.
Connacht survive another defensive set get a cheap breakdown penalty that allows them to get close to the Sharks 22 but they miss touch.
Connacht find a decent touch after having to scramble back to defend a grubber from Lukhanyo Am.
The Sharks threaten as Fassi kicks ahead into space, but Hanrahan gets back and he dots dead for the goal-line dropout. Connacht will kick out after several players receive medical attention.
That decision backfires as the Sharks give away a penalty on their own scrum feed. Connacht exit well enough and can launch from ten inside their own half.
The Sharks are now into their swing with the ball-in-hand rugby they have promised. They get another penalty in the Connacht 22 and call a scrum.
CONVERSION, SHARKS, BOSCH, 12-10:
Bosch converts and the Sharks lead.
TRY, SHARKS, KOK, 10-10:
Kok is in under the sticks after gathering a ricocheting ball and Connacht protest but the try stands. Am kicked a wobbly little grubber which Fassi couldn't gather but hacked forward and up into Kok's hands.
The Sharks call for the scrum with Connacht a man down in the pack. Connacht pack down with a man in the bin.
YELLOW CARD, CONNACHT, DOWLING:
Dowling takes one for the team as Connacht keep infringing.
The Sharks will tap and go again after another penalty, they surge over but the TMO needs to have a look.
Connacht committed two offences in keeping the Sharks out and the hosts have another go from the tap penalty.
The Sharks turn down a certain three and go to their lineout again.
Connacht get lucky as Wright is just slightly ahead of the kicker as the Sharks find a way through.
An open start to the second half eventually breaks down as the Sharks step into touch close to halfway.
HALF TIME: SHARKS 5-10 CONNACHT
The Sharks have blown enough chances to already have a bonus point but instead go into the break five behind. Connacht have been composed and happy to play the percentages. Connacht struggle to control the game when the Sharks hit their straps but the hosts have let themselves down with errors.
Bosch is a hair away from a 50/22 but Riley gets back and kicks clear.
Connacht clear well from their own lineout eventually but the Sharks will have another chance to attack from halfway.
The Sharks ask questions on attack again but Notshe is tackled into touch and Connacht have a lineout feed inside their own 22 after an injury break
PENALTY, CONNACHT, HANRAHAN, 5-10:
Hanrahan punishes poor discipline from the Sharks
The conversion goes amiss from Bosch.
TRY, SHARKS, NOTSHE, 7-5:
Nothse goes over for the Sharks at last and that is what they deserve for their dominance of the ball but equally they haven't been terribly sharp and will be thrilled to still be in the contest
The Sharks will have a scrum five out after Connacht carry back following the kick ahead from Van Heerden. Mchunu does well on the chase to keep Connacht under pressure.
Connacht get some bonus metres as the referee allows them to take a kick three metres beyond the mark and they have a lineout close to the Sharks 22.
The Sharks have attacking possession again and they now seal off at the ruck and Connacht have a penalty to switch play into the Sharks half. Connacht don't need to play at all given the Sharks can't go more than a few phases without an error.
The Sharks implode again reaching out to disrupt a pass and being penalised to give Connacht another cheap exit.
It is a good scrum from Connacht but the Sharks can come back at them from the lineout. The maul is stopped though and Richardson is isolated and penalised giving Connacht a simple exit. The Sharks look like an amateur side at the moment.
Kok breaks the line for the Sharks and they look to get into their running. Dyantyi knocks on to end the attack for the Sharks and Connacht have a scrum feed inside their own 22 again.
Connacht clear the scrum and the Sharks will have a lineout just inside the Connacht half but they overthrow and Connacht can attack. They kick long though tand the Sharks opt to keep ball in hand.
The scrum is not under control and the referee wants it reset and lectures both front rows which is never a good sign.
James Venter drops the ball in contact and that is his second knock inside the Connacht 22. Connacht have the scrum which should give them a chance to clear their lines.
Connacht carry off the back of the scrum and kick up to just outside their 22 where the Sharks feed a lineout. Connacht knock on as they attempt an intercept and the Sharks have a scrum feed just outside the Connacht 22 now.
The Sharks knock on as they try another pick and go having gone close to the Connacht line. Connacht know they just need to be patient on defence and wait for the inevitable Sharks mistake.
The Sharks win a penalty but they turn down the shot at goal in order to set up a lineout. Given their lack of precision on attack this season that decision is questionable.
CONVERSION, CONNACHT, HANRAHAN, 0-7:
The conversion is over.
TRY, CONNACHT, JOYCE, 0-5:
The Sharks are under pressure and Connacht attack with Joyce going over even if his score looked a little suspect.
Connacht nail a 50/22 and get great attacking possession.
A kicking battle ends with Connacht finding touch close to halfway. They gather their ball but throw a forward pass ten inside the Connacht half.
Rahl knocks on as the throw arrives low and Connacht have a scrum with the Sharks struggling for early ball security again.
KICK OFF: The Sharks kick off deep but Connacht exit well and find touch on halfway.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Byron Ralston, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Sean O’Brien, 7 Conor Oliver (captain), 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Oisín Dowling, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tadgh McElroy, 1 Denis Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Darragh Murray, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 John Porch.
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Francois Venter (captain), 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phendulani Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Tino Mavesere, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Greetings and welcome to our coverage of the URC fifth round match between the Sharks and Connacht from Kings Park.
