BUNDEE AKI LED the way as Connacht remained top of the Pro 12 with another superb victory at the Sportsground.
The centre was outstanding throughout as Pat Lam’s men completed their first double over Ospreys in over a decade.
And Matt Healy, a hat-trick hero in the win away to Zebre last weekend, continued his rich vein of form.
He crossed for the third game in a row to take his haul to nine tries in the competition.
Connacht led 17-15 at the end of a thrilling opening half when the sides scored two tries apiece.
Aki got Connacht off the mark after less than two minutes and AJ MacGinty crossed for the second to lead by 14-3 after just 12 minutes.
Rhys Webb led the Ospreys revival and Connacht were punished as Ben John and Dan Baker got over for tries to leave it 17-15 at the break.
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Matt Healy scored a superb try after 50 minutes when he escaped the clutches of Sam Davies and beat through Webb’s challenge.
Ospreys again hit back and a try from Webb set up an exciting finish but Craig Ronaldson tacked on a penalty, and Kieran Marmion was given a huge decision, when it was adjudged that he had held Davies in the corner before the visiting out-half got over.
Another Ronaldson penalty secured the win and ensured the Welsh left Galway without even a bonus point.
Connacht scorers:
Tries: Aki, MacGinty, Healy;
Conversions: Ronaldson (3);
Penalties: Ronaldson (3)
Ospreys scorers:
Tries: John, Baker, Webb;
Conversions: Davies (2);
Penalties: Davies (1)
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun (Danie Poolman ’63), Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson (Peter Robb ’76), Matt Healy; AJ MacGinty, Caolin Blade (Kieran Marmion ’32); Denis Buckley (Ronan Loughney ’72), Tom McCartney (Dave Heffernan ’73), Rodney Ah You (Finlay Bealham ’58); Ben Marshall (Danny Qualter ’41), Aly Muldowney; Sean O’Brien, Jake Heenan, George Naoupu (James Connolly ’63).
Replacements not used: none
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Jess Hassler, JJ Engelbrecht (Owen Watkin ’8), Josh Matavesi, Ben John (Eli Waker ’68); Sam Davies, Rhys Webb (Brendon Leonard ’73); Paul James (Gareth Thomas ’65), Sam Parry (Scott Otten ’63), Dmitri Arhip (Aaron Jarvis ’52); James King, Rory Thornton; Joe Bearman (Rynier Bernardo ’52), Olly Cracknell, Dan Baker.
Replacements not used: Jordan Collier
Referee: G Clancy (IRFU)
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Another impressive win as Connacht remain top of Pro12
Connacht 30
Ospreys 22
BUNDEE AKI LED the way as Connacht remained top of the Pro 12 with another superb victory at the Sportsground.
The centre was outstanding throughout as Pat Lam’s men completed their first double over Ospreys in over a decade.
And Matt Healy, a hat-trick hero in the win away to Zebre last weekend, continued his rich vein of form.
He crossed for the third game in a row to take his haul to nine tries in the competition.
Connacht led 17-15 at the end of a thrilling opening half when the sides scored two tries apiece.
Aki got Connacht off the mark after less than two minutes and AJ MacGinty crossed for the second to lead by 14-3 after just 12 minutes.
Rhys Webb led the Ospreys revival and Connacht were punished as Ben John and Dan Baker got over for tries to leave it 17-15 at the break.
Matt Healy scored a superb try after 50 minutes when he escaped the clutches of Sam Davies and beat through Webb’s challenge.
Ospreys again hit back and a try from Webb set up an exciting finish but Craig Ronaldson tacked on a penalty, and Kieran Marmion was given a huge decision, when it was adjudged that he had held Davies in the corner before the visiting out-half got over.
Another Ronaldson penalty secured the win and ensured the Welsh left Galway without even a bonus point.
Connacht scorers:
Tries: Aki, MacGinty, Healy;
Conversions: Ronaldson (3);
Penalties: Ronaldson (3)
Ospreys scorers:
Tries: John, Baker, Webb;
Conversions: Davies (2);
Penalties: Davies (1)
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun (Danie Poolman ’63), Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson (Peter Robb ’76), Matt Healy; AJ MacGinty, Caolin Blade (Kieran Marmion ’32); Denis Buckley (Ronan Loughney ’72), Tom McCartney (Dave Heffernan ’73), Rodney Ah You (Finlay Bealham ’58); Ben Marshall (Danny Qualter ’41), Aly Muldowney; Sean O’Brien, Jake Heenan, George Naoupu (James Connolly ’63).
Replacements not used: none
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Jess Hassler, JJ Engelbrecht (Owen Watkin ’8), Josh Matavesi, Ben John (Eli Waker ’68); Sam Davies, Rhys Webb (Brendon Leonard ’73); Paul James (Gareth Thomas ’65), Sam Parry (Scott Otten ’63), Dmitri Arhip (Aaron Jarvis ’52); James King, Rory Thornton; Joe Bearman (Rynier Bernardo ’52), Olly Cracknell, Dan Baker.
Replacements not used: Jordan Collier
Referee: G Clancy (IRFU)
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