Connacht end Lions’ unbeaten home run

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A late Jack Carty penalty for Connacht denied the Lions a share of the spoils and snapped a four-game winning run for the Joburgers at Ellis Park on Saturday evening.

With the score tied at 30-30 and six minutes left on the clock, Carty stepped up with a crucial three points from the tee to regain the lead for the Irish and make it nine wins in as many matches against South African teams.

Carty led Connacht out for the second stanza 14-8 in front, and made no mistake after pointing to the posts from over halfway. Jordan Hendrikse narrowed the gap by three, before Carty replied with a penalty of his own.

Quick thinking from Morne van den Berg put the Lions back in the game, with Hendrikse converting to make it 18-20. Carty split the uprights again to pull Connacht further ahead, before Tom Daly finished off a Bundee Aki carry-and-offload.

Edwill van der Merwe hit back for the Lions, and the hosts levelled matters with 10 minutes left after Burger Odendaal slipped through the defence for a converted touchdown.

Connacht opened the scoring early, a silky move off the base of the maul from the lineout allowing Cian Prendergast to dot down. Carty added the extras.

The visitors soon made it 14-0 after Ruan Dreyer was yellow-carded for collapsing the maul and the Irish were awarded a penalty try.

Hendrikse got the Lions on the scoreboard from in front of the poles, before Rabz Maxwane crossed in the corner after Wandisile Simelane broke the line.

Watch: Connacht practise penalising SA teams

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Devin Hermanus