Details

Date Time Competition Season
23 April 2022 3:05 pm United Rugby Championship 2021/22

Match Report

Carty kick wins for Connacht in South Africa

16 points from the boot of Jack Carty, helped Connacht to a 33-30 win over the Emirates Lions this afternoon in Round 16 of the URC.

Carty was an inspirational figure for the Irish province, leadership and his kicking ability spearheading their charge from the backline. 

Cian Prendergast and Tom Daly both added tries in either half, with a penalty try giving them a 14-8 lead at half time, they drove on into the second half but the hosts stayed with them every step of the way, only for a late Carty penalty to seal the win.

A win was badly needed to keep their hopes of a top eight URC finish alive, Prendergast got them off to the ideal start crossing after three minutes, a great line out move saw Caolin Blade find him in space to touch down, Carty made it 7-0 shortly after.

After more sustained pressure the Lions defence cracked and a penalty try was awarded after 10 minutes, with Ryan Dreyer going into the sin bin for another cynical move to stop Connacht touching down for a second try, an ideal 14-0 lead after 10 minutes.

The Lions slowly came back into the tie having gained some ground, Jordan Hendrikse landed a penalty after 19 minutes to put them on the scoreboard. It remained a nip and tuck affair until two minutes from injury time where Rabz Maxwane crossed to make it 14-8 at the interval.

Shortly after the restart Carty extended the visitors lead, making every inch from a penalty just inside the Connacht half as they again started the better of the two teams. Just minutes later Hendrikse added another three to cut the lead to 17-11.

Carty’s kicking was proving troublesome for the Lions, a thorn in their sides as the fly half landed another penalty for a nine point advantage after 52 minutes, the mistakes being punished for the hosts whenever Carty had the ball in possession.

Just as Connacht looked to be driving ahead Morne van der Berg crossed on the back of a ruck for their second try of the game, a simple tap over conversion had the lead now down to just two points, 20-18. 

Carty replied with his fifth penalty of the afternoon, making it five from five to see them five ahead, but they struggled to build a healthy lead in the tie as the hosts remained within touching distance.

Tom Daly would give Connacht a huge boost after the hour mark, the centre touching down after a wonderful move and offload by Bundee Aki saw them lead by 12 after another accurate conversion attempt.

As was the story with this tie the Emirates Lions, they managed another try after 67 minutes Edwil van der Merwe found space to touch in the corner, but a missed conversion attempt was a huge let off for the visitors, as they remained seven ahead, 30-23.

The home side hit a blow after 71 minutes, the returning captain Burger Odendall getting the try which saw them level, after Hendrikse added another close range conversion attempt.

Carty had a chance to seal the win with a penalty but the kick just drifted wide, again the Lions were sloppy in defence and Carty again opted for the posts after 75 minutes, he made no mistake as they led by three points.

They worked hard for the result in the end, failing to get a bonus point but the four points does give them hope going into their final two fixtures in the competition.

Emirates Lions

15Quan Horn Full-Back
14Rabz Maxwane Winger 39'
13Wandisile Simelane
12Burger Odendall Centre 71'
11Edwill van der Merwe Winger 67'
10Jordan Hendrikse Fly-Half 56', 71'
19', 48'
9Morne van den Berg 21 56'
1Sti Sithole 17 Prop
2PJ Botha 16 Prop
3Ruan Dreyer 18 10'
4Ruben Schoeman 19 Lock
5Reinhard Nothnagel Lock
6Francke Horn No. 8
7Vincent Tshituka Flanker
8Emmanuel Tshituka
16Jaco Visagie 2 Hooker
17JP Smith 1
18Carlu Sadie 3 Prop
19Ruan Venter 4 Flanker
20Sibusiso Sangweni
21Andre Warner 9 Scrum-Half
22Manuel Rass Centre
23Tiaan Swanepoel Fly-Half

Connacht

15Mack Hansen Full-Back
14John Porch Winger
13Bundee Aki Centre
12Tom Daly Centre 63'
11Alex Wootton 22 Winger
10Jack Carty Fly-Half 4', 64'
42', 52', 59', 75'
9Caolin Blade 21 Scrum-Half
1Denis Buckley 17 Prop
2Dave Heffernan 16 Hooker
3Jack Aungier Prop
4Oisin Dowling 19 Flanker
5Niall Murray Lock
6Cian Prendergast Lock 3'
7Jarrad Butler No. 8
8Paul Boyle 20 Flanker
16Dylan Tierney-Martin 2 Hooker
17Jordan Duggan 1 Prop
18Greg McGrath Prop
19Leva Fifita 4 Lock
20Conor Oliver 8 Flanker
21Kieran Marmion 9 Scrum-Half
22Conor Fitzgerald 11 Fly-Half
23Shayne Bolton Centre

Ground

Emirates Airline Park
Emirates Airline Park, 7th Street, Commercial area, Johannesburg Ward 123, Johannesburg, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, 2001, South Africa

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.