13-0 down at half-time but armed with a wind advantage for the second half, Connacht left themselves with too much to do in their Magners League opener on Friday night as the Ospreys, with out-half James Hook in match-winning form, took the spoils at a wet and windy Sportsground.
The defeat, played out in storm-like conditions, ended Connacht’s proud record of having won their opening league match every year since the competition began in 2001.
But it was a positive start for new coach Sean Holley as the Ospreys won away from home in the Magners League for the first time since the 2006/07 season.
In driving wind and rain, the visitors played the conditions smartly and turned around with a 13-0 interval lead.
Connacht, with four new recruits in their line-up including half-backs Ian Keatley and Frank Murphy, struggled as they faced into the wind in the opening half.
Continuing his solid pre-season form, Ospreys number 10 James Hook directed play early on although he was successful with only one of his first three penalty attempts for a fourth-minute lead.
His second attempt, from five metres inside the Connacht half, tailed away to the right but the Wales star had his radar right on target in the 19th minute when his beautifully weighted chip kick set up winger Nikki Walker’s try.
With the conversion added, the Ospreys moved 10-0 ahead and Connacht’s night darkened further when their new captain John Muldoon was sin-binned, near the half-hour mark, for a ruck offence.
Hook banged the resulting penalty through the uprights but Connacht staged a revival just before the break and Keatley was just wide with a penalty after some gutsy pack play.
Michael Bradley’s side, with the elements at their backs, made a morale-boosting start to the second half as Keatley potted a penalty goal after Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett saw yellow.
However, with 13 full internationals in their starting line-up, the Ospreys had more than enough experience to see out the result.
Their advantage in the contact areas and tackle situations, with Marty Holah particularly prominent, allied to an eye-catching display from Under-20 international Rhys Webb helped Holley’s men keep ahead.
Giving away some silly penalties around rucks, Connacht’s frustration clearly grew as the second half wore on and attack-minded backs Fionn Carr and Keith Matthews, who scored twice when the sides met last May, had little chance to get ball in hand.
They could not carve out any clearcut try-scoring chances and Keatley missed with their only other kick at the posts, pushing a 67th-minute effort to the right and wide.
The points were sewn up seven minutes from time when Hook landed his third penalty success after replacement Duncan Jones won a scrum decision.
Connacht lost Andrew Farley to the sin-bin for the closing stages and they had to be on their toes in deepest injury-time to prevent Walker from scoring a breakaway try.
This website uses cookies.
Read More