Connacht were unable to prevent the Ospreys from extending their winning run in this season’s GUINNESS PRO12 to seven matches as they hosts emerged as 26-11 victors at the Liberty Stadium.
It was all level at 3-3 come the half-time whistle with Connacht’s stout defence frustrating the Welsh region on four visits to the 22.
But Pat Lam’s men were hit after the break when winger Jeff Hassler broke free to score the opening try of the game. With momentum gained, they crossed again on the hour mark, this time through scrum half Martin Roberts (pictured below), while 21-year-old out-half Sam Davies kicked 16 points.
Connacht’s Craig Ronaldson had a difficult night from the tee, with only two successful kicks from six attempts, while his new centre partner Bundee Aki acquitted himself well on his debut.
It was Galway-born Eoin McKeon who got in for a late score on 77 minutes when Connacht, who had a second debutant in replacement prop Jamie Dever, started to look a lot better in attack.
However, the fight-back came too late and the province left empty-handed as they stare into a two-week break in games before round 8 at home to Zebre on Friday, November 21.
Two minutes in, referee John Lacey penalised Connacht full-back Shane Layden for a deliberate knock-on but Davies’ first shot at goal fell short. The young out-half to make amends almost immediately and this time, from a bit closer in, he landed the penalty to give his side an early lead.
Two of Connacht’s lineouts were uncharacteristically stolen inside the opening quarter and only an excellent covering tackle from prop Denis Buckley prevented an opening try after winger Tom Grabham broke clear on 14 minutes.
When the Ospreys were penalised for holding on, it was Ronaldson who kicked to touch but the resulting lineout throw was deemed crooked.
The Connacht pack showed their dominance, however, to turn an Ospreys scrum over, 30 metres from the hosts’ line. However, Ronaldson’s attempt to level the scores was wide to the left of the posts.
A stop-start opening half continued with plenty of penalties against both teams and Davies suffered a second penalty miss in the 33rd minute before misfiring a kick from his hands straight into touch.
Connacht then crashed their way up towards the opposition 22 and when the league leaders were caught off their feet 35 metres out, Ronaldson kicked the westerners level for the interval.
While Ronaldson sent an early second half penalty short and wide from the halfway line, he was back on target in the 47th minute after a powerful Connacht shove won back possession at an Ospreys scrum.
The 6-3 lead did not last long, however, as a system error in defence allowed full-back Dan Evans to tear free and offload to Hassler who scored in the corner. Davies added the conversion from the touchline.
Lam’s charges were forced to scramble back and defend after a loose ball was chipped down to the Connacht 22. Penalised at the breakdown, Davies was able to send a simple penalty through the posts. He added another two minutes later on the back of an Ospreys scrum.
The Ospreys were caught for not rolling away on the hour mark but Ronaldson curled the penalty wide. On his introduction from the bench, Ashley Beck was immediately involved in his side’s second try, picking a gap before linking with Roberts who finished off with Davies once again converting.
Davies added another penalty to extend the lead to 20 points after 60 minutes. But Connacht responded with a barrage of phases deep in the Ospreys 22 as they searched for a consolation score.
A lineout drive finally got through the hosts’ defence three minutes from time with McKeon piling over for the try. Ronaldson’s conversion hit the post and bounced clear.
The Ospreys had replacement Jordan Collier sent to the sin-bin in the closing stages but despite the one-man advantage, Connacht coughed up possession in the hosts’ 22 as the final whistle went.
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