Ronaldson and Farrell propel Connacht to invaluable victory

CONNACHT chalked up their seventh successive home win when they dug deep to score an invaluable victory over Conference A rivals Ospreys at the Sportsground.

Coach Kieran Keane will hope this win ignites a good spell in the PRO14 but he said there was still plenty of room for improvement.

“I’m thrilled with the result but it was a bit of a scratchy performance. We are a work in progress,” said Keane. Craig Ronaldson, playing at out-half, and centre Tom Farrell were the key performers as they chalked up their fifth win.

Ronaldson’s sixth successful kick of the night also ensured that Ospreys left empty-handed. It took Connacht time to make their superiority count but they went in leading by 13-5 thanks to a converted try just before the interval.

Two penalties from Ronaldson saw Connacht lead 6-5 approaching the break after Ospreys left winger Daf Howells got in for a try after 16 minutes.

Connacht, who lost Tiernan O’Halloran and Andrew Browne to early injuries, struck just before the break from f lanker Eoghan Masterson.

Ronaldson increased the lead to 16-5 from a penalty after Ospreys winger Hanno Dirksen was binned for a late tackle on Connacnt scrumhalf Caolan Blade.

Sam Davies hit a penalty for the visitors but Tom Farrell got in under the posts, with Ronaldson’s conversion making it 23-8.

That should have sealed the win but replacement scrum-half Reuben MorganWilliams hit back for a converted try to leave eight between them with seven minutes left on the clock before Ronaldson sealed the win.