In-form Connacht secured their fourth win of the GUINNESS PRO12 season in determined fashion, with today’s excellent result against the Ospreys moving them joint-top of the table.
Matt Healy and man-of-the-match Bundee Aki both crossed for tries at the Liberty Stadium against an Ospreys side that welcomed back four of their Welsh Rugby World Cup players.
Out-half Jack Carty kicked two first half penalties with centre Craig Ronaldson taking over kicking duties after the break. He landed a conversion and the all-important 77th-minute penalty which sealed the province’s first win in Swansea since November 2004.
The hosts got themselves on the scoreboard first, with number 10 Sam Davies firing over a penalty after a ruck infringement in the second minute.
Pat Lam’s men had a chance to level matters almost immediately when number 8 Eoghan Masterson forced a penalty at the breakdown, but Carty’s attempt from a difficult angle went wide. The Athlone man was up at the tee again in the 10th minute and slotted the more straightforward kick to make it 3-3.
There was an enforced change to the Connacht side when Tiernan O’Halloran, who was captaining his province for the first time, had to come off with suspected concussion following a collision in the air. The fit-again Niyi Adeolokun was brought on to the wing for his first appearance of the season, and Darragh Leader reverted to full-back.
The Ospreys then clicked into gear with their first sustained attack as Eli Walker prized open the space in the wide channel, putting number 8 Dan Baker over in the corner – the try standing after TMO Gareth Simmonds checked for a forward pass.
Davies miscued the conversion and soon after Carty missed another penalty from the same angle as before. Aki, who was at his talismanic best, then bolted deep into the Ospreys’ 22 but was held up just short of the whitewash.
After a series of pick-and-goes no try came, but Ospreys centre Josh Matavesi was sin-binned for a professional foul. The resulting penalty saw Carty reduce the deficit to 8-6. Indeed, Davies missed an opportunity to respond from the tee after Connacht went off their feet.
With a one-man advantage, Connacht’s opening try came just before the half hour mark when Kieran Marmion was fed by Masterson off a five-metre scrum and the sniping scrum half offloaded for Healy (pictured below) to touch down in the left corner. Carty’s touchline conversion drifted wide.
Lam’s charges were pinged at the breakdown just before half-time to give Davies a shot at goal, but the 22-year-old was wayward again, leaving the visitors with an 11-8 advantage at the turnaround.
The second period could not have started better for Connacht with a try coming a matter of minutes after the restart. Aly Muldowney’s gallop through midfield did the initial damage, and Aki stretched over after receiving a well-timed offload from Ronaldson. The latter was also on target with the conversion for 18-8.
The Ospreys brought on Wales internationals Paul James and Justin Tipuric for the last half hour but Aki’s unyielding defensive form continued, the powerful centre forcing two knock-ons.
Young out-half Davies shaved the gap down to seven points with a penalty, but he misjudged another eight minutes later after Steve Tandy’s side won a scrum against the head.
Following a number of enforced substitutions, there was confusion in the back-line and Connacht were penalised for crossing following an attacking lineout. The resulting penalty gave the Ospreys their own lineout, which led to a try in the corner from Tipuric who had the required impact for the Welshmen.
Davies missed the difficult touchline conversion, however, leaving Connacht two points in front, and prop Denis Buckley (pictured above) impressed by stealing the ball off the Ospreys on two occasions to keep them out.
With five minutes left on the clock, Connacht were attacking in the hosts’ 22 and, following numerous phases, won a penalty which Ronaldson comfortably slotted to put the westerners five points clear.
A huge defensive effort and a vital turnover in the visitors’ own 22 allowed Leader to kick the ball to touch and confirm Connacht’s historic first win at the Liberty Stadium – their 2004 triumph came at the Gnoll.
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