Connacht struggled to keep up with the Vodacom Bulls, ending in a 28-14 defeat at Dexcom Stadium. The Bulls' early dominance and crucial bonus point sprint by Lionel Mapoe sealed the game despite both teams having 14 players for a portion of the match.
Connacht 14-28 Vodacom Bulls CONNACHT , DOWN TO 14 men for almost three-quarters of the game, fell to a demoralising defeat to the Bulls at Dexcom Stadium .The Bulls got on top from the start on a wet evening in Galway and they dominated the opening quarter with 85% possession as Connacht just could not get their hands on the ball.
Connacht suffered a major blow after 22 minutes when No.8 Sean Jansen was red-carded for an elbow to the head of Bulls captain Marcel Coetzee as he moved in to tackle the South African. Connacht needed a good start to the second-half but it was the Bulls who extended their lead when Kriel broke down the left, got away from O’Conor to get past full-back Shane Jennings to score in the corner. Goosen, playing his first game of the campaign, added another brilliant conversion to make it 21-0.
The Bulls were reduced to 14 men as well three minutes later when No.8 Celimpilo ka Gumede was guilty of hands to the eye area after he retaliated when David Hawkshaw held him back at the side of ruck but Connacht failed to build anything from the penalty to the right corner.
Rugby Connacht Vodacom Bulls Dexcom Stadium Lionel Mapoe Sean Jansen
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