Carty keeps composure to help Connacht end Lions' unbeaten home run

Carty added two penalties in the third quarter.

Lions 30 Connacht 33 

Jack Carty, after missing an easier kick in front of the posts, kept his composure to land the match-winning penalty from the right two minutes from time to claim a superb victory at Ellis.

Connacht have now set themselves up for a clean sweep against the South African sides in the maiden URC as Andy Friend tries to end a disappointing season on a high.

Connacht made a glorious start and raced into a 14-0 after just nine minutes at Ellis Park as they took the game to the Lions from the outset.

Mack Hansen, impressive in his new role at full-back, made an immediate impact as Connacht went to the corner with a penalty. He made the break and combined with scrum-half Caolin Blade to send Cian Prendergast over for a try after just two minutes. Jack Carty added the easy conversion.

Blade and Hansen were again key to Connacht’s second try, making hard yards with Paul Boyle which led to a couple of penalties to touch and Welsh referee Craig Evans moved quickly to punish the Lions, awarding a penalty try and binning tighthead Ruan Dreyer for killing the ball.

But Connacht didn’t make the extra man count and after losing a lineout from another penalty to the right corner, they lost that ten-minute spell 3-0 when Jordan Henrikse got the Lions off the mark with a penalty in front of the posts after 18 minutes.

Hooker Dave Heffernan knocked on in the tackle as he headed for the line after a good build-up, while at the other end Hendrikse turned down three points in front of the posts but then kicked the ball dead as he went for the left corner.

But they 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 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.

Lions Scorers: Tries: R Maxwane, M van der Berg, E van der Merwe, B Odendaal. Cons: J Hendrikse (2). Pens: Hendrikse (2) 

Connacht Scorers: Tries: C Prendergast, T Daly, penalty try. Cons: J Carty (2). Pens: Carty (4).

LIONS: Q Horn; R Maxwane, W Simelane, B Odendaal, E van der Merwe; J Hendrikse, M van der Berg (A Warner 64); S Sithole (JP Smith 47), PJ Botha (Visagie 57), R Dryer (C Sadie 47); R Schoeman (R Venter 60), R Nothnagel; G Horn, V Tshituka, E Tshituka (J Visagie 11-19).

CONNACHT: M Hansen; J Porch, B Aki (S Bolton 18-28), T Daly, A Wootton; J Carty, C Blade (K Marmion 70); D Buckley (J Duggan 60), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 60), J Aungier (G McGrath 46); O Dowling (L Fifita 50), N Murray; C Prendergast, J Butler, P Boyle (C Oliver 50).

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales).