Bulls edge Connacht 28-27 after late misses in Galway

The Vodacom Bulls edged Connacht 28-27 in a dramatic United Rugby Championship match in Galway on Friday night, with scrumhalf Paul de Wet scoring two tries and replacement flyhalf Sean Naughton missing a last-gasp conversion that would have given the hosts victory. The result halted Connacht's faint hopes of a late comeback and offered the Bulls a response after a heavy defeat to Ulster the previous weekend.

Connacht opened the scoring through flyhalf Josh Ioane, who finished and converted an early try. The Bulls replied with a slick backline move finished by de Wet and later extended their lead when veteran fullback Willie le Roux crossed for a try that, with Keagan Johannes' kicking, gave the visitors a midgame advantage. Johannes also supplied a second-half drop goal and penalties that proved influential in the narrow final margin.

The match was marked by a contentious disciplinary incident in the 18th minute when Connacht flanker Josh Murphy was shown a 20-minute red card after an altercation with Bulls hooker JanHendrik Wessels. Referee Mike Adamson and TMO Hollie Davidson reviewed the incident and penalised Murphy for striking Wessels. Connacht temporarily played a man...