Courageous Connacht Undone By Ospreys

Connacht again left the Liberty Stadium empty-handed after a workmanlike performance failed to yield even the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Having picked up bonus points on two of their last three trips to Swansea, Connacht were on course to get something from the game as they fought their way back to trail by 19-9 with just under half an hour remaining.

But they were unable to reduce the deficit further and the Ospreys wrapped up their bonus point when scrum half Kahn Fotuali’I, off the back of a scrum, spotted a gap and darted over to seal the maximum points eight minutes from time.

Connacht’s youthful defence – the 19-year-old Darragh Leader had a solid senior debut at full-back – was busy in the opening quarter as the reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions started strongly.

Superb defence from Connacht kept the Welsh side largely at bay in the first half, although the hosts did control possession and build through the phases well.

Their young winger Eli Walker got the opening try after 15 minutes, the forwards directing operations with a series of pick and goes before the ball was swung wide for Richard Fussell to put Walker over. Dan Biggar converted.

But Connacht were determined to put pressure on their hosts and after an even period Dan Parks reduced the deficit with two good penalties from the left. The second of them came after Biggar was caught offside.

However, the Welsh region, who led 12-6 at the break, struck for crucial tries either side of the interval from Justin Tipuric and Jonathan Thomas.

Flanker Tipuric bolstered the hosts’ lead for half-time by getting over in the right corner past the covering Tiernan O’Halloran.

On the resumption, the Ospreys struck again as the influential Thomas picked off a pass from Parks to run in the Ospreys’ third try of the afternoon.

Ryan Bevington had a try ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up from Andrew Bishop, with the likes of Robbie Henshaw, stand-in captain Nathan White and John Muldoon maintaining the defensive pressure from the westerners.

Parks landed his third successful penalty to cut the gap to 10 points, but that was as close as Eric Elwood’s charges came to catching the home side.

The former Scotland international, who lashed away some relieving clearances, missed a long range penalty that would have got the visitors back within a converted try.

Connacht made full use of their replacements bench with ex-Stormers man Danie Poolman replacing centre Mata Fifita to earn his first cap for the province.

The Ospreys notched their fourth and final try as Connacht were penalised at a scrum inside their 22, Fotuali’i took a quick tap and the Samoan proved unstoppable from close range.