Connacht late show ends Cheetahs’ streak

Adam Kyriacou

Connacht struck at the death as they secured a 24-22 PRO14 victory over the Cheetahs in a thrilling finish at the Sportsground on Saturday.

Replacement Tom Farrell’s 85th-minute try ended the South African side’s fine start to the season as Connacht won an epic six-try game in Galway.

Trailing 22-19, Connacht’s bravery in turning down two kickable penalty goals was rewarded when Farrell brilliantly stretched over past three defenders for his second score during a dramatic final 14 minutes.

The Conference A leaders, who gained a perfect 15 points at their Bloemfontein fortress in recent weeks, had seemingly done the hard work in fighting back from 14-5 down at half-time with Ruan Pienaar kicking a penalty and converting tries from Rhyno Smith and Clayton Blommetijies.

However, Connacht took full advantage of centre Dries Swanepoel’s 70th-minute red card for a dangerous head-led challenge on Caolin Blade.

Farrell bagged a late brace to add to first-half scores from Niyi Adeolokun, on his seasonal debut, and Kieran Marmion. Joseph Dweba notched the visitors’ first half effort.

The fast-paced fourth round tie had burst into life when Conor Fitzgerald motored through a gap on a flying 13th-minute break. Connacht’s young fly-half popped up a few phases later to show soft hands in sending Adeolokun sprinting over to the right of the posts.

Swanepoel had a score ruled out for a forward pass from Blommetijies, but the Cheetahs capitalised on successive penalties to strike from a powerful 28th-minute lineout maul. Hooker Dweba plunged over for his fifth try of the season, which went unconverted.

The searing pace of the Cheetahs back-three caused problems for Connacht, although Adeolokun was just as elusive. He carved open some space via Kyle Godwin’s 37th-minute skip pass and evaded two more defenders to lay off for Marmion to finish off and Fitzgerald converted.

After the home forwards dug deep to prevent a second Cheetahs maul try before the interval, a nasty-looking injury ended Gavin Thornbury’s involvement and a Pienaar penalty drew the South Africans closer in the 45th minute.

Connacht were left to rue two lost lineouts in attacking positions as the Cheetahs clinically turned the tables. Full-back Smith ran in his sixth try of the campaign, showing his blistering pace from the left wing, and Benhard Janse van Rensburg’s well-timed 61st-minute pass released winger Blommetijies for his crisp finish.

Pienaar landed both conversions to make it 22-14 and the in-form South Africans were on course for their first ever victory on Irish soil. Despite lock Sintu Manjezi’s huge workload in defence, Swanepoel’s dismissal invited Connacht forward and Farrell struck a 71st-minute maul.

Fitzgerald was unable to convert, and although he kicked his side back into the visitors’ 22, Connacht’s lineout let them down.

Captain Jarrad Butler backed the scrum late on, twice turning down a close-in shot at the posts, and it paid off when a sweeping move allowed Farrell to reach out for the line.

In the match taking place at the same time, Leinster scraped a 3-0 victory over Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi which keeps their winning run intact. The Irish side now boast a four wins from four record in the PRO14 season, with Ross Byrne’s 20th minute penalty the difference.

Earlier in the day there were wins on home soil for Benetton and Dragons, who overcame the Southern Kings and Glasgow Warriors respectively.

Benetton edged out the South African team 36-30 as Angelo Esposito, Ian Keatley, Iliesa Ratuva, Juan Ignacio and Federico Ruzza scored tries.

Dragons picked up a 18-5 win over the Scottish giants as Taine Basham and Ashton Hewitt went over, Huw Jones responding late for Glasgow.

The final PRO14 game of the day saw a rampant Edinburgh beat Scarlets 46-7 at Murrayfield in a result that takes them third in Conference B.

Duhan van der Merwe starred with a hat-trick while Mike Willemse scored a brace and Mark Bennett and debutant Eroni Sau also claimed tries.