Connacht claim classic comeback win over Sharks

No Clan Stand, no problem.

Connacht overturned a 20-point half-time deficit to ensure their first home game of the BKT URC season ended with an incredible five-try victory over the Sharks at the Dexcom Stadium.

After a lightning fast start, during which man of the match Dave Heffernan scored the first of two tries, Connacht fell badly off the pace and conceded 27 points in a 16-minute spell to trail the Sharks, missing their Springboks players who were at the Rugby Championship, by 20 at the break.

But whatever head coach Pete Wilkins said at half-time had the desired effect and, except for the last kick of the game, which earned the visitors a losing bonus point, it was only Connacht who troubled the scoreboard in the second period.

Cathal Forde scored a superb effort and Shane Jennings ran home after intercepting, while Heffernan and Oísin Dowling claimed close-range efforts in a relentless 40 minutes.

After losing a ten-try thriller last weekend to Munster, another defeat would have hit hard but the nature of the comeback will make the victory extra sweet.

The home side totally dominated the opening quarter and Heffernan's fourth-minute try was the least they could have expected in return.

The try came from a lineout maul, which came off the back of a neat midfield move between Forde and Piers O'Connor.

With Ben Murphy supplying quick ball from the breakdown, Santi Cordeo, Mack Hansen and Josh Ioane had time to show their skills, while the Sharks, on their first URC outing of the season, looked cold and their high fielding was off.

Neither could they sort out their scrum but two poor penalty concessions by Connacht allowed the Sharks to kick their way into the Connacht 22.

From there, former Munster and Leinster man Jason