Carty kicks Connacht to gutsy win in Jo’burg

By JOHN FALLON

Lions……………………30 Connacht …………..33

JACK Carty nailed a penalty two minutes from time to claim a superb win for Connacht at Ellis Park just moments after he missed one in front of the posts.

But the out-half kept his nerve as Connacht deservedly took the spoils in a game where they twice saw big leads whittled back by the South Africans.

It saw Connacht become the first Irish side to win on South African soil this season.

“We made life difficult for us at times but we are delighted to get the win.

It's a really tough place to come, with altitude as well, so it's great to get the result,” said Carty.

Connacht made a glorious start and raced into a 14-0 after just nine minutes, with Cian Prendergast going over inside two minutes after good work by Mack Hansen, who was impressive in his new role at full-back.

They added a penalty try after nine minutes before the Lions hit back and reduced the gap to 14-8 at the interval when winger Ratz Maxwane got in just before the break.

Carty added two penalties in the third quarter either side of one from Hendrikse, before the Lions rallied when scrum-half Morne van der Berg tapped a penalty and got over for a converted try to cut the gap to 20-18 after 55 minutes.

Hendrikse missed a penalty before Carty landed one and then good work from Bundee Aki set up his centre partner Tom Daly for a converted try to take a 30-18 lead into the final 18 minutes.

But the Lions, who defeated Munster at home in February, didn't relent and they struck for two tries from Edwin van der Merwe in the left corner and then ten minutes from time they got back on level terms when Burger Odendaal broke through to score and Hendrikse converted to make it 30-30.

However, Connacht had the final say when Carty regained his composure to land the winner from the right wing after missing in front of the posts to secure a great win.