Connacht recover from nightmare start to clinch key victory in Wales

Westerners rebound from a disastrous start which saw them fall 12 points adrift after just eight minutes to beat Ospreys 22-19

PORCH BANDIT: John Porch of Connacht Rugby scores his side's third try. Pic: INPHO/Ashley Crowden

Ospreys 19 Connacht 22

CONNACHT overcame a gutsy Ospreys side in Swansea to claim a second victory over Welsh opposition in successive weeks.

The Irish province were full value for the win with their forwards having an edge in the tight while they created enough opportunities to have won this game more comfortably than they did.

Andy Friend’s side made a terrible start as the Ospreys raced into a 12-0 lead within the opening 10 minutes. A clever chip ahead by Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams caused chaos in the Connacht defence. The ball was claimed by Jack Walsh who fed Luke Morgan before young second-row Huw Sutton powered his way over from short-range.

Morgan-Williams also sparked the home side’s second try with a clean break down the blindside before exchanging passes with Keiran Williams which resulted in the lively number nine touching down for the try.

This acted as a wake up call for the Irish province who clicked into gear and began to put the Ospreys under pressure. They messed up a chance to pull a try back when they were pinged for accidental offside just as their maul was creeping towards the try line. Ospreys flanker Ethan Roots got sent to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle on Gavin Thornbury.

Connacht’s ball carriers were getting over the gainline, and the Ospreys survived a second onslaught on their line when Jack Aungier was held up over the try line.

But they finally turned pressure into points when an intricate attacking move ended up with a lovely floating pass from Carty putting Alex Wootton over at the far right-hand corner. Carty converted from the touchline and Connacht had finally found their rhythm.

The Ospreys had started with such fervour but they had now lost all the intensity which had fired them into an early lead. Connacht’s attack was purring and they were finding holes throughout the Ospreys defensive system with centres David Hawkshaw and Tom Farrell very nearly reaching the line with two powerful carries. However, they had won enough momentum which allowed scrum-half Caolin Blade to take advantage of a tired Ospreys defence to score.

The start of the second-half was in complete contrast to the first with Connacht starting like a house on fire. After several dynamic carries they were over the advantage line, and after going through the hands John Porch crossed for their third try.

But Connacht had more control than the Ospreys, and Carty made it a two-score game with a well-taken drop goal from 35 metres out.

The Ospreys set up an exciting final 10 minutes when replacement hooker Sam Parry showed tremendous strength to batter his way over the line. Jack Walsh added the extras to make it a three-point game. The Welsh side huffed and puffed in the closing stages of this game but Connacht’s defence was strong enough to keep them at bay.

Scorers for Ospreys: Tries: H Sutton, R Morgan Williams, S Parry. Cons: J Walsh (2).

Scorers for Connacht: Tries: A Wootton, C Blade, J Porch. Cons: J Carty (2). Drop goal: Carty.

Ospreys: M Nagy; L Morgan, T Thomas-Wheeler, K Williams, K Giles; J Walsh, R Morgan Williams; R Henry (G Phillips 55), S Baldwin (c) (S Parry 55), T Botha (B Warren 55); R Davies (J regan 73), H Sutton; E Roots, H Deaves (T Davies 36-41, 59), M Morris.

Connacht: T O’Halloran (A Byrne 37); A Wootton (T Daly 71), T Farrell, D Hawkshaw, J Porch; J Carty (c), C Blade (K Marmion 65); D Buckley (J Duggan 55), D Tierney-Martin (G Stewart 50), J Aungier (S Illo 50); O Dowling (Murray 60), G Thornbury (D Murray 27-39); S Hurley-Langton (P Boyle 55), C Oliver, J Butler.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland).