URC

The Sharks back-up brigade produced a stirring last quarter of the match to eventually go down fighting 24-12 in the URC against Connacht.

The Sharks finally got a deserved second try in the 79th minute as they attacked into the Connacht 22m, getting right onto the line, where replacement prop Dian Bleuler picked up and drove over for an unconverted try making it 24-12. The Sharks then finally managed to respond in the 61st minute as they attacked from a couple of tap and go’s in the Connacht 22m, with inside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg receiving the ball and pumping the legs through tackle attempts and over, with replacement back Lionel Cronje nailing the conversion. Six minutes later the Sharks thought they had reduced the deficit to 10 points after hooker Kerron van Vuuren charged down a kick and then got the ball back to go over in the corner. Connacht was now in the ascendancy and they continued pressuring the Sharks over the rest of the half, but it took until the halftime whistle for them to go over again. [Connacht](https://www.connachtrugby.ie/) opened the scoring from a lineout deep in the Sharks 22m, with them setting up the maul and rumbling over for flank Conor Oliver to dot down, while flyhalf Jack Carty hit the post with the conversion to leave the score 5-0. [a young Sharks side](https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/reniel-hugo-lead-sharks-urc-match-connacht/) staring down the barrel of a big defeat with Connacht leading 24-0 after running in four tries, but some strong performances from the replacements like Lionel Cronje, Grant Williams and Kerron van Vuuren inspired them to battle back.