Sharks carry Currie Cup momentum to URC

The Sharks lost 36-30 to Connacht in Galway in their opening fixture of the new URC season but it would have left coach John Plumtree unsure whether to laugh or cry.

I think it would have been more of the latter because his team led 27-7 at half time only to concede 29 points without replay in the second half before flyhalf Siya Masuku nailed a pressure kick after the hooter had gone to rescue a point.

It is difficult to fathom how a Sharks team that had dominated the Irishmen in the first half was rendered toothless in the second.

They had gone down early to a home try but then produced 27 points without reply against a team that almost beat giants Leinster last week away from home.

The Sharks were sitting pretty with that 20-point lead but could not capitalise on it and Plumtree will be furious that a golden opportunity to start a three-week overseas tour on a successful note has been squandered.

The Durbanites play the Dragons in Wales this week and conclude their tour against Italian side Benetton.

Connacht began the game strongly with a maul a try in the third minute.

The Sharks bounced back with two sledgehammer efforts by burly centre Andre Esterhuizen.

Jordan Hendrikse reprised his effort in the Currie Cup final with a monster effort to push the Sharks into a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and added to it with a giant 60m effort at the dawn of halftime.

At 27-7 at the break, the Sharks should have been over the hills and far away.

But the second half was one-way traffic in favour of the home team and it was Masuku’s excellent effort that salvaged a bonus point when at least four should have been banked.

Scorers

Sharks — Tries: Gerbrandt Grobler, Andre Esterhuizen (2). Conversions: Siya Masukeu (2). Penalties: Jordan Hendrike (3), Siya Masuku.

Connacht — Tries: Dave Heffernan (2), Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings, Oisin Dowling. Conversions: Josh Ioane. (4). Penalty: Ioane.