Connacht suffer late heartbreak as Bulls edge a dramatic URC affair
Connacht’s latest United Rugby Championship assignment ended in heartbreak as they were pipped 27-28 by the Vodacom Bulls at the Dexcom Stadium. A controversial 20-minute red card for Josh Murphy complicated a night that included four tries from Connacht — Ioane, Blade, Naughton and Hansen — and a spirited late rally that fell just short.
The visitors made the brighter start, with a precise early move yielding a try for fly-half Josh Ioane after a sustained spell inside the Bulls’ 22. His conversion gave Connacht a 7-0 lead and suggested a night of momentum in the home venue. The Bulls hit back quickly, and their first two five-pointers came as Paul de Wet finished a counterattack sparked by Sebastian de Klerk, leveling the scores and setting the stage for a tense 40 minutes of rugby.
Willie Le Roux then threaded through a considerable defensive gap to touch down, with Keagan Johannes adding the extras to push the Bulls ahead. The scoreboard pressure shifted decisively after Connacht were reduced to 14 men when back-row forward Murphy was judged to have struck after an on-field clash following a claims of foul play. The TMO review did not find evidence to uphold the initial grievance, but Murphy was penalized for contact after the incident, and the red card left Connacht with a substantial hurdle to overcome for the remainder of the match.
With Murphy off, Connacht faced a 20-minute period of numerically inferior pressure, yet the half closed with the Bulls holding an eight-point advantage after a second-half drop goal from Keagan Johannes. The home side responded strongly in the immediate aftermath, with Caolin Blade orchestrating play and Ioane stabbing a well-timed kick to set up a quick scoring opportunity. Byron Ralston’s industrious break carved space for Ioane to bring Connacht within a single point, reigniting belief in the stands.
The Bulls struck again midway through the second half as De Wet crossed for his second try, capitalizing on breaks and breaks in play from the wings Canan Moodie and Sebastian de Klerk that repeatedly unsettled Connacht’s defensive line. Yet Connacht refused to surrender, turning the contest into a high-tension battle of tactics and stamina. Shayne Bolton, Ireland’s international utility back, supplied the assist that would prove decisive for Connacht when he delivered a clever kick to put Sean Naughton in for a late try in the corner.
The resulting conversion attempt from Naughton proved difficult in the swirling Dexcom Stadium wind, and Ioane’s subsequent attempt to swing the score with a tricky strike was off target. The Bulls, holding a slender lead as the clock ran down, weathered the closing pressure with calm and composure. They added a penalty apiece from Johannes and Naughton, trading blows in a tense final ten minutes. Then came the pivotal moment: Le Roux’s high tackle on Naughton earned Connacht a chance to nudge ahead. Mack Hansen, patient in his build, found space in the corner after fifteen phases, but Naughton could not convert under wind and pressure, and the Bulls clung to victory in a dramatic finale.
Such an outcome adds another chapter to Connacht’s URC season, highlighting the fine margins between success and disappointment in this fiercely competitive league. The drama’s glow lingered long after the whistle as both sides reflected on a match that was hard-fought from the opening whistle to the last.
For fans and listeners, the match served as a reminder of the URC’s fast pace and physical edge, with standout contributions from Ioane, Blade, Naughton and Hansen for Connacht, and the Bulls’ versatility and counter-attacking threat proving decisive in the end. The post-match mood mixed pride in the fight with frustration at the late decisive moments that defined the result.
What’s next for Connacht?
Connacht will regroup quickly as they prepare for their next URC assignment, aiming to translate resilience into a victory and climb back up the standings. The red card incident will be reviewed, but it already stands as a talking point about discipline and game management in tight matches.
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