Connacht convince in win over Ospreys

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 22 Connacht 33

Connacht produced a stirring performance to pick up five points at St Helens in Swansea with a four try haul which overcame the home side.

Connacht had to come from behind in the second-half but were well worth their eleven points advantage by the end.

Ospreys fly-half Shaun Connor kicked two early penalties before Wayne Munn crossed for an excellent try after 13 minutes.

Eric Elwood added the points and also kicked a penalty five minutes later to give Michael Bradley¹s men a 10-6 lead.

Connor pulled back another penalty for the home side before they went ahead with a try from hooker Chris Wells after 25 minutes. Elwood pulled back another penalty to leave Connacht trailing 16-13 at the break.

Connacht got a vital breakthrough nine minutes after the restart when man-of-the-match Bernard Jackman broke for a converted try.

Eight minutes later Connacht put distance between them and the Ospreys when Mike McCarthy broke from halfway for a try which left them 25-16 to the good.

Connor reduced the deficit with another penalty but the issue was finalised thirteen minutes from time when Conor McPhillips crossed for his fifth try of the season.

Full-back Adrian Durston pulled back a penalty for the Ospreys as they tried to salvage a bonus point but Connacht finished in style with Mark McHugh adding a long distance penalty.

Connacht will now have two home matches on the trot, in the Celtic League against leaders Ulster next Saturday at the Sportsground and then the following week Edinburgh come to town for a Celtic Cup semi-final showdown.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys: A. Durston; D. Tiueti, J. Storey, S. Gibbs, G. Morris; S. Connor, A. Williams; P Jones/C. Griffiths, C. Wells/A. Wyn Davies, A. Millward/A. Clatworthy; A. Newman, L. Bateman; G. Thomas, R. Pugh, N. Bonner-Evans.

Connacht : D. Hewitt; T. Robinson, M. Mostyn, T. Allnutt, W. Munn; E. Elwood, M. Walls; D. McFarland, B. Jackman, A. Clarke; D. Browne, M. McCarthy; J. Muldoon, P. Neville, M. Carroll.

Replacements: A. Farley for Browne, half-time; C. McPhillips for Munn, 57 mins; J. O¹Sullivan for Carroll, 58 mins; F. Boiroux for Clarke, 66 mins; M. McHugh for Hewitt, 65 mins; H. Bourke for McCarthy, 80 mins.

Referee: D. Changleng (Scotland).