Ospreys 43
Connacht 40
It was an epic and highly entertaining encounter in Wales, but in the end Connacht will rue their failure to deliver, falling to Ospreys by three points.
The home side went on to score 35 unanswered points after Connacht had opened with two early tries, and although Pete Wilkins’ men came close in the end, they failed to convert two late chances. Had they kicked one of them, Connacht could have drawn the fixture and gained an extra point, which could have moved them up to ninth.
Connacht had delivered the ideal start, opening their tally within two minutes. Running from deep Cahill Forde made the necessary incision before Finn Treacy scored within the opening minute, outhalf Josh Ioane adding the extras.
Outhalf Dan Edwards opened Ospreys’ account with a penalty, but by the14th minute Pete Wilkins’ side bagged their second try - Ioane making the break before flanker Shamus Hurley Langton crossed, with the outhalf adding the extras.
Thereafter, however, the home side, boasting 171 international caps, took control. A looping pass to Daniel Kasende provided his opposite winger Keelan Giles with the chance to claim their first try, with Edwards converting. And four successive penalties against Connacht and the loss of Shayne Bolton which required Ioane’s move to the wing, with JJ Hanrahan taking over the No 10 jersey, gave the home side all the momentum. By half time they were 31-14 ahead, courtesy of Giles with his second try, Kieran Hardy and Daniel Kassade.
The home side continued with their scoring spree immediately after the restart, extending their lead with a Walsh try to 38-14, but thereafter Connacht grabbed the momentum. In the 67th minute Josh Murphy delivered a well-worked try from a penalty to touch, and when the superb Hugh Gavin delivered the final pass to Jansen, Connacht had narrowed the gap to 43-40.
With the game poised 43-40, and three minutes remaining, Connacht had two last chances. On both occasions they attempted to run the ball, but could not find a way through. They may regret spurning those opportunities to kick for goal and take the draw for three points.
Scoring sequence:1m Treacy try, Ioane con 0-7; 4m Edwards pen 3-7; 13m Hurley-Langton try, Ioane con 3-14; 16m Giles try, Edwards con 10-14; 32m Giles try, Edwards con 17-14; 34m Hardy try, Edwards con 24-14; 36m Kasende try, Edwards con 31-14. HT 31-14; 44m Walsh try Edwards con 38-14; 47m Heffernan try Hanrahan con 38-21; 49m O’Conor try, Hanrahan con 38-28; 56m Kesende try 43-28; 67m Murphy try Hanrahan con 43-35; 69m Hurley-Langton try 43-40.
Ospreys: J Walsh, D Kasende, E Boshoff, K Williams, K Giles, D Edwards, K Hardy, G Phillips, S Barry, T Botha, J Ratti, A Beard, M Morse, J Tipuric, M Morris. Replacements, S Thomas for Phillips and J Fender for Ratti (both 42 ), G McGuignan for Davis (68 ), S Thomas, B Warren for Botha (46 ), R Morgan-Williams for Hardy and P Cokanasiga for Willians (both 50 ), I Hopkins for Williams (70 ), K Hardy for Fender (77 ).
Connacht: P O’Connor, F Treacy, H Gavin, C Forde, S Bolton, J Ioane, C Blade, D Buckley, D Heffernan, J Aungier, D Murray, J Joyce (C ), J Murphy, S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle. Replacements, J Hanrahan for Bolton (30m ), S Jansen for Boyle, T Lasisi for Buckley and O Dowling for Joyce (all 44 ), M Devine for Blade (52 ), D Tierney-Martin for Heffernan and S Illo for Aungier (57 ), D O’Connor for S Hurley-Langton, (76 ),
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, 10th league game )
