Having done the hard work in fighting back to draw level, Connacht coughed up a match-winning try to the Ospreys in the final play as they went down 22-17 at the Morganstone Brewery Field in Bridgend.
Hard-earned tries from Bundee Aki (64 minutes) and captain Jarrad Butler (69) squared things up at 17-all after a very poor start from Connacht, who leaked early scores to two-try winger Keelan Giles, and Harri Morgan also touched down. However, Jack Carty missed a drop goal attempt and kicked out on the full, allowing the hosts to respond with Dan Evans’ decisive late score.
It was a hugely disappointing outcome for Connacht as the Ospreys were without all bar one of their Wales international contingent. Head coach Andy Friend said afterwards: “We knew Ospreys had a lot of players out, so this is definitely a missed opportunity for us. We had a slow start and there was a lack of energy about us, which was disappointing. I thought we did well to get back to 17-all, but then we lose the game in the final play.
“It’s a big blow. We’ve normally started the first 20 minutes in games well this season. This was the first time it didn’t happen. I don’t know what it was, but I’ll pay credit to the Ospreys. They played a smart game and turned us around which we struggled to cope with. We have to bounce back from this result now.”
There were 10 changes to the Connacht team that lost at Sale Sharks last week, with Ireland squad members Bundee Aki, Kieran Marmion, Finlay Bealham and Quinn Roux all starting. But a blocked clearance from Tiernan O’Halloran had the visitors under early pressure, and the ball was soon moved wide for Giles to grubber through on the left wing and get the touchdown ahead of a scrambling O’Halloran.
That first-minute try went unconverted as did Giles’ eighth-minute effort, the Ospreys retaining possession and working their way into the Connacht 22 before Sam Davies’ neat chip kick to the left was gathered on the bounce by the 21-year-old flyer to make it 10-0.
The Connacht forwards carried well, particularly Ultan Dillane, before Carty clipped over a close range drop goal to get them off the mark. Their first attempt at a lineout maul, set up by a scrum penalty, was successfully held up by the Welshmen, and they were also kept scoreless from a prolonged attacking spell in the lead up to half-time.
Carty and replacement Colby Fainga’a found some space in the Ospreys defence, with the scrum and two penalties also driving the province forward, but centre Tom Farrell was unfortunately held up. With a 10-3 deficit to overcome, Connacht had a one-man advantage five minutes into the second half as Ospreys number 8 Rob McCusker saw yellow for a high tackle on Cian Kelleher.
Despite this, it was the Ospreys who managed to extend their lead when Cory Allen was released on a strong run out wide and his inside pass sent debutant scrum half Morgan weaving over from 10 metres out. His half-back partner Davies supplied the conversion.
Replacements Caolin Blade and Kyle Godwin lifted the tempo for the westerners, the latter breaking into Ospreys territory soon after his introduction, and the lineout drive finally delivered the goods past the hour mark. Roux’s take, five metre out, got the forwards rumbling through and Aki joined the maul to plunge over with referee Mike Adamson perfectly placed to spot the grounding.
Carty converted and Connacht were level with ten minutes remaining, launched forward by Sean O’Brien’s turnover at the breakdown. After Aki was denied a second try from a close-in maul, Blade fed Butler who muscled past the first tackle to dive over wide on the left. Carty’s excellent conversion from near the touchline made it 17 points apiece and set up a mouth-watering conclusion to the game.
Connacht should have taken the lead with three minutes remaining, Blade feeding Carty for a 30-metre drop goal shot which went agonisingly wide of the right hand post. A couple of tight calls went the Ospreys’ way in the very final play, a Morgan pass, which looked forward, sent Allen charging through a hole in the visitors’ midfield, and although Kelleher hauled down the big centre a few metres short, the ball went loose for inrushing full-back Evans to pick up and touch down.
Referee Adamson went to TMO Neil Paterson to review the incident, which was initially signalled as an Ospreys knock-on on the ground. However, Paterson adjudged that the defending Godwin had dislodged the ball from Allen’s grasp and Evans’ score was given the green light.
It left Connacht, who host the Dragons in round 8, with just a losing bonus point to show for their efforts. The Ospreys remain second in the Conference A standings and Friend’s side are fifth, three points behind third-placed Munster.
This website uses cookies.
Read More