Sharks crush Connacht to book playoff berth

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The Sharks clinched a place in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs with a bonus-point win over Connacht at Kings Park on Saturday.

Trailing by 11 points at the interval, the Durbanites produced a monsterous second-half performance to score 31 unanswered points for a convincing 41-21 victory.

The Sharks climb – albeit temporarily – up to third place on the log, with four teams in the top eight still to play.

Bongi Mbonambi and Marius Louw dotted down after the half-time restart, with Curwin Bosch successfully converting both, to give the Sharks the lead for the second time in the match.

Gerbrandt Grobler barged over off the back of the ruck for his second of the match, before Bosch added another three points from the tee.

Le Roux Roets capped a fine all-round display with the home side’s fifth try, and the triumph for Sean Everitt’s men.

Conor Fitzgerald connected from in front of the sticks for the opening score, but Bosch restored parity with his second penalty attempt of the half.

Fitzgerald drilled his next shot down the middle, only for Connacht wing John Porch to earn 10 minutes in the sin bin for a high tackle.

The Sharks made the one-man advantage count as Grobler scored from a successful lineout and maul. Bosch added the extras.

Connacht pulled back to within one point after Gavin Thornbury charged down a clearance kick from Jaden Hendrikse. Fitzgerald struck another three before Caolin Blade finished a breakaway try.

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Devin Hermanus