Connacht 15 Ospreys 16: CONNACHT WERE denied a third home win of the Magners League season when the Ospreys struck for a try in the 78th minute at the Galway Sportsground last night.
Replacement fullback Barry Davies was the hero for the visitors when he broke through for the only try after Connacht had initially repelled a forward drive.
Connacht, however, had the opportunity to snatch the victory at the death, but outhalf Miah Nikora's touchline penalty kick dipped under the crossbar, denying the home side a second win over the Ospreys in the league history.
Until Davies' try, Connacht had held a 15-9 lead despite losing Bernie Upton to the sinbin and an unfavourable penalty count. But they rediscovered some urgency and aggression at the breakdown to force the pace, and were rewarded with two crucial penalties in quick succession.
With the score level 9-9 after a Matthew Morgan drop goal on 60 minutes, Troy Nathan instigated the first penalty with a break out of defence from turnover ball, and, when Marty Holah was pinged at the breakdown, Nikora converted from the 22.
Minutes later, man of the match Michael Swift barged down the right wing from the drop-out, and Connacht, with some quick recycling, grabbed the opportunity to extend the lead.
However, they failed to close out the game and the Ospreys, needing seven points to win, took a final penalty to kick for touch. Although they found no way through with their forwards, some slick handing fed Davies who strode through from 10 metres out.
Connacht coach Eric Elwood said a bonus point was no consolation, having targeted a victory. "We lacked the usual intensity at the breakdown and, even as bad as we played, to be six points up near the end and not to close the game out was very disappointing."
Connacht held a three-point lead at the break courtesy of three penalties from Nikora. They had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, particularly in the scrum, which had laid the platform for first-phase possession and territorial control. Within seven minutes they had capitalised with two penalties from the former New Zealand under-21 outhalf, including a beauty from the left touchline.
Although the Ospreys created one try-scoring opportunity from a quickly taken penalty, left wing Richard Fussell knocked on close to the line, and thereafter Connacht were back on the attack with Nikora adding a third penalty when the Ospreys were once again penalised at scrum time.
It was 21 minutes before the visitors got on the scoreboard with the second of a succession of penalties. League debutant Matthew Morgan struck his 35-metre effort after Connacht were pinged for not rolling away, and thereafter Connacht found themselves continually penalised by Peter Allan.
Fionn Carr was held up on the line, and as the penalty count started to mount in the Ospreys' favour, it put paid to the home side adding to their score.
Instead it gave the Ospreys a platform to attack, and when Morgan struck the first of two more efforts before the break, it allowed the visitors to reduce the deficit to three points at the break.
CONNACHT: G Duffy, T Nathan, E Griffin, K Matthews, F Carr, M Nikora, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, D Murphy, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, J O'Connor, J Muldoon (capt). Replacements: I Keatley for Matthews (HT), B Fa'amausili for Hagan (51), E Taylor for Upton (60), R Loughney for Murphy (64), A Browne for Muldoon (62), D Fanning for Carr (66).
OSPREYS: G Owen, K Phillips, S Parker, A Beck, R Fussell, M Morgan, R Webb, D Jones, M Davies, C Mitchell, C McInerney, I Evans, J Tipuric, M Holah, J Collins (capt). Replacements: J Goode for McInerney (42), J Nutbrowne for Webb (56), B Davies for Owen (56), C Griffiths for Jones, J King for Evans, and M Jarvis for Morgan all 72).
Referee: Peter Allan(SRU).
