Connacht beat Eben Etzebeth's Sharks to make Challenge Cup quarters

Connacht reached the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals by racking up a sixth win in a row as a dominant second period secured a 29-12 win against the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

Stuart Lancaster’s side welcomed the South African outfit to Dexcom Stadium on Good Friday and found themselves narrowly behind at the break.

Chay Mullins recorded the only try of the first half in Galway, but Jean Smith kicked four penalties to give the Sharks a 12-7 advantage.

However, they were blown away in the second half as Cathal Forde quickly scored a converted try.

Shamus Hurley-Langton was next to cross and Sam Gilbert recovered from missing the extras by splitting the sticks after Forde scored his second try of the evening.

Fixture

Challenge Cup

Connacht

29 - 12

Full-time

Sharks

All Stats and Data

Connacht showed solid defensive play throughout and Gilbert’s penalty wrapped things up.

Connacht Rugby:
1 Billy Bohan; 2 Dave Heffernan; 3 Sam Illo; 4 Joe Joyce; 5 Darragh Murray; 6 Josh Murphy; 7 Shamus Hurley?Langton; 8 Cian Prendergast; 9 Matthew Devine; 10 Josh Ioane; 11 Chay Mullins; 12 Bundee Aki; 13 Cathal Forde; 14 Shane Jennings; 15 Sam Gilbert.

Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney?Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 John Devine.

Hollywoodbets Sharks:
1 Ox Nche; 2 Eddie Swart; 3 Vincent Koch; 4 Eben Etzebeth; 5 Deon Slabbert; 6 Tino Mavesere; 7 Jannes Potgieter; 8 Nick Hatton ; 9 Ross Braude; 10 Jean Smith; 11 Makazole Mapimpi; 12 Marnus Potgieter; 13 Le Roux Malan; 14 Edwill van der Merwe; 15 Hakeem Kunene.

Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Lee?Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker.