Connacht blown away as Ospreys go hunting

CONNACHT started brightly enough but were undone by Ospreys’ impressive overloading game as the home side scored two fine tries in the space of three minutes.

The first try was started with a pinpoint flat pass from Davies which put Cracknell through a hole in midfield and after going through the phases Baker crashed over for Davies to convert.

Ospreys’ great brand of rugby continued as a break

OSPREYS 29 CONNACHT 7

down the right ended with Davies putting the in-form Cracknell over by the posts. Davies converted to make it 14-0 after 14 minutes.

Despite Ospreys having real momentum, wing Matt Healy made a break up the left and a score was only prevented by a fine final-ditch tackle by Beck.

Connacht were not helped that they lost both Jack Heenan and Jack Carty during the first half and were somewhat fortunate to be just 14-0 down at the break.

Five minutes into the second half Ospreys extended their lead through a Davies penalty after a high tackle on Tom Habberfield by Tom McCartney.

Connacht lost a line-out in the Ospreys 22 which proved costly as the home side worked their way up field, ending with prop Nicky Smith squeezing over for the third try. Davies converted.

After Davies went to the sin bin on 69 minutes for a high tackle, the Irishmen showed character to hit back as O’Brien went over for a try down the right after picking up a loose ball.

With time running out 14-men Ospreys went on one last desperate attack in search of the bonus point which came when Beck slid over in the left corner. Biggar missed the conversion.