The hosts scored first when Kiwi fly-half Josh Ioana went over for a converted try.  However, the Bulls responded almost immediately when scrum-half Paul de Wet crossed the whitewash in a move started by Canan Moodie.  

However, Keagan Johannes failed to convert, leaving the Bulls trailing by 7-5. But then Connacht’s Josh Murphy received the club’s first 20-minute red card in the URC era.  

Bulls hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels was accused by Murphy of grabbing his groin at a ruck, prompting Murphy to lash out and strike Wessels in the face. However, television replays showed no evidence of the alleged incident.

With a man down, the Bulls went for it with Willie le Roux punishing the home side with another try and Johannes adding to the scoreboard.

‘Johannes took charge’

Leading 12-7 after the break, the Bulls’ Johannes took charge of piling the points; first with a penalty and then a close-range drop-goal.

The hosts were soon back thanks to scrum-half Caolin Blade, who finished a Byron Ralston line break.  Midway through the second forty, De Wet got his second try for the Bulls, but Sean Naughton scored for Connacht in the closing stages.

‘Superb finish from MacKenzie Hansen’

Johannes and Naughton then exchanged long-range penalties before Connacht surged towards the try-line, and a superb finish from MacKenzie Hansen in the corner brought them within a point again just before the final whistle.

The Bulls will now travel to Glasgow to take on the Glasgow Warriors next Friday, while Connacht will stay in Ireland to take on Munster on Saturday.

Scorers 

Connacht: Tries –  Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade, Sean Naughton, Mack Hanson. Conv. Josh Ioane (2). Pen. Naughton.

Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Paul de Wet (2), Willie le Roux. Conv. Keagan Johannes (2). Pen. Johannes (2). Drop goals: Johannes.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg