MAGNERS LEAGUE: Ospreys 22 Connacht 10: THE OSPREYS maintained their pressure on Munster and Leinster at the top of the Magners League table with a hard-fought, but ultimately comfortable, victory over Connacht at Liberty Stadium

A poor start ensured Connacht were on the back foot from the beginning, and despite playing some enterprising rugby, they were never able to catch a side that remains in contention for a second league title.

The Ospreys remain in joint second with Leinster, and the two sides now face each other in the next league fixture in March.

“I suspect Leinster would have been disappointed not to get the bonus point against the Scarlets as we were today, but it’s always close when we play Leinster and I expect it will be a cracker,” said Ospreys’ coach Seán Holley.

Connacht’s Michael Bradley rued his side’s failure to get anything for their efforts.

“It was a great opportunity for us. I think we were in the opposition half six times in the first half and turned the ball over each time. You cannot expect to win matches if you do that.

“I looked at the clock after half-time and it was 16 minutes and I was not sure if the Ospreys had touched the ball,” he said, “but they were much more clinical than us and that was the key difference.”

Once again Connacht suffered a nightmare start, conceding a try by the third minute. Johnny Vaughton initially found the gap, but despite the covering tackle, he was able to offload to centre Jonathan Spratt who finished off, with outhalf Dan Biggar adding the extras.

Thereafter Connacht took over for most of the half, playing some enterprising rugby. Outhalf Ian Keatley’s missed an early penalty kick from the 10 metre line and they had to wait until the 30th minute before they were rewarded when Keatley potted a penalty when the Ospreys went off their feet.

In between Connacht’s backs came into their own with Fionn Carr, Gavin Duffy, and Keith Matthews prominent. Carr did well to field Frank Murphy’s clearing garryowen before kicking ahead, but from the ensuing five-metre scrum Connacht were penalised, losing both field position and possession.

Matthews fielded another neat chip from Keatley, but the territory gained was conceded again when Connacht were pinged for not releasing.

In the aerial ping-pong Connacht’s back three coped well, while the forwards were successful in disrupting the Ospreys’ lineout at times. However the home side, who edged the battle on the floor where new signing, Samoan skipper Felipo Levi, made his presence felt, showed their superiority in the tackle area, and possessed the finishing power.

After Biggar added a penalty, the Ospreys crossed for a second try before the break. With Connacht’s cover exposed, flanker Steve Tandy took Biggar’s skip pass to waltz in on the left wing and put the home side 15-3 ahead.

Although Connacht regained the impetus after the break, Keatley was well wide with a 45th-minute penalty. Ospreys made the necessary bench changes to regain the initiative. Within minutes they had crossed for a third try. The backrow paved the way with Tom Smith barging his way through, and although Carr was fingertip close with an intercept just yards from the Connacht line, Vaughton grabbed the loose ball and his second try in the left corner.

Connacht were rewarded with a try from replacement Troy Nathan. Andy Dunne converted in the 78th minute but it wasn’t enough to make any difference on the bottom of the league table.

OSPREYS: G Owen: K Phillips, S Parker, J Spratt, J Vaughton; D Biggar, J Nutbrown; P James, R Hibbard, C Griffiths; P Levi, A Lloyd, J Thomas; S Tandy, T Smith. Replacements: E Shervington for Hibbard (24 mins), F Tiatia for Lloyd, M Holah for Tandy, D Bishop for Spratt, R Bevington for Griffiths (66 m)ins, R Webb for Nutbrown (74 mins), A Beck for Parker (77 mins),

CONNACHT: G Duffy, F Carr, N Taauso, K Matthews, L Bibo, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris, A Browne, A Farley, J Muldoon (cpt), R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: D Gannonn for Rigney (ht), A Dunne for Keatley, T Nathan for Taauso (65 mins), K Campbell for Murphy (70 mins), A Flavin for Cronin (72 mins), R Lougheny for Wilkinjson (78 mins).

Referee: Peter Allan(Scotland).