Second-half resurgence not enough to give Connacht much-needed win over Ospreys

URC: Ospreys 43 Connacht 40

Connacht find themselves out of top eight and back down to 12th place after suffering a three-point loss to Ospreys in their URC joust in Swansea on Saturday.

In an entertaining 12-try score fest, Pete Wilkins’s men came out on the wrong side – their two bonus points insufficient to maintain their recent positive push for the quarter-finals.

“A brilliant game to watch for the neutral,” said Connacht’s scrum and contact coach Cullie Tucker. “The momentum swings were massive, and I think both teams capitalised on it.

“That’s what made it exciting, but also frustrating from both sides' points of view. We are frustrated not to leave with five points, but we take the positives leaving with two. It’s a very tough place as well.”

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After Connacht had opened with two early tries, the home side took control, scoring 35 unanswered points. And although Connacht came close in the end, they failed to convert two late chances.

“You don’t want to concede tries like that, but I was very proud how they come out of those periods, how they settled at half-time, and at the end of the game you have a young team fighting to win,” added Tucker.

“Incredible resilience for the boys to come back from that, keep fighting to the death and very unlucky not to come away with the five points. Plenty to work on, but their spirit and how they reacted at the right moments was great.”

Connacht had delivered the ideal start. Running from deep, centre Cathal Forde made the necessary incision before Finn Treacy scored within the opening minute, outhalf Josh Ioane adding the extras.

Connacht's Matthew Devine offloads under pressure during the BKT United Rugby Championship match against the Ospreys at Swansea.com Stadium. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Outhalf Dan Edwards opened Ospreys’ account with a penalty, but by the 14th minute the visitors 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.

Four successive penalties against Connacht and the loss of Shayne Bolton, which necessitated Ioane’s move, with JJ Hanrahan taking over the number 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 Kasende.

The home side continued with their scoring spree immediately after the restart, extending their lead with a Jack Walsh try to lead 38-14, but Connacht grabbed the momentum for their fightback. 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 Sean Jansen, Connacht had narrowed the gap to 43-40.

With the game poised 43-40, and three minutes remaining, Connacht had two last penalty chances. On both occasions they attempted to run the ball, but could not find a way through. They may yet regret spurning those opportunities to kick for goal.

SCORING SEQUENCE – 1 min: Treacy try, Ioane con, 0-7; 4: Edwards pen, 3-7; 13: Hurley-Langton try, Ioane con, 3-14; 16: Giles try, Edwards con, 10-14; 32: Giles try, Edwards con, 17-14; 34: Hardy try, Edwards con, 24-14; 35: Kasende try, Edwards con, 31-14; Half-time 31-14; 44: Walsh try, Edwards con, 38-14; 47: Heffernan try, Hanrahan con, 38-21; 49: O’Conor try, Hanrahan con, 38-28; 56: Kasende try, 43-28; 67: Murphy try, Hanrahan con, 43-35; 69: Hurley-Langton try, 43-40

OSPREYS: J Walsh; D Kasende, E Boshoff, K Williams, K Giles; D Edwards, K Hardy; G Phillips, S Parry, T Botha; J Ratti, A Beard; M Morse, J Tipuric, M Morris.

Replacements: S Thomas for Phillips, J Fender for Ratti (both 42 mins); S Thomas, B Warren for Botha (46); R Morgan-Williams for Hardy, P Cokanasiga for Willians (both 50); G McGuignan for Davis (68); I Hopkins for Williams (70); K Hardy for Fender (77).

CONNACHT: P O’Conor; S Bolton, H Gavin, C Forde, F Treacy; J Ioane, C Blade; D Buckley, D Heffernan, J Aungier; D Murray, J Joyce; J Murphy, S Hurley-Langton, P Boyle.

Replacements: J Hanrahan for Bolton (30 mins); S Jansen for Boyle, T Lasisi for Buckley, O Dowling for Joyce (all 44); M Devine for Blade (52); D Tierney-Martin for Heffernan, S Illo for Aungier (both 57); D O’Connor for S Hurley-Langton (76).

Referee: A Barrett-Theron (SA).