AFTER A BRIEF second half resurgence, Connacht fell to a 26 -43 defeat at the hands of Ospreys at the Sportsground.
Pat Lam’s men shipped three tries in each half, but despite having not scored a five-pointer of their own in the first half, four Craig Ronaldson penalties kept them within 10 points at half time.
Danie Poolman and Eoin Griffin scores after the break helped the westerners back to within three points just after the hour, but the 2012 champions always looked to have an extra gear and they duly powered home with tries from Jeff Hassler and Alun-Wyn Jones in the final 10 minutes.
The ex-Lansdowne man had given the hosts an early lead at the Sportsground.
Ronaldson gave the hosts an early lead, but after missing his second attempt from distance, he misplaced a pass into the arms of Dan Biggar who ran in a 40-metre intercept try.
With Lions like Jones and Ian Evans in Ospreys line-up, Connacht found very little change in the tight and after 17 minutes, Richard Fussell scampered in for try number two leaving a host of green shirts in his wake.
Ronaldson would narrow the gap as the visitors happily gave away penalties to halt any momentum from the western province, but there was more damage to come at the other end as Eli Walker finished off a flowing move in the left-hand corner.
Ronaldson ended the half on the bench nursing a thigh injury, but with four penalties to his name as Connacht trailed 12 -22
The second half brought a whole new Connacht, and the green shirts flew into contact with extra intent.
The reward came with Poolman’s 55th minute try, but the more telling impact came at the other end when Tito Tepaldi again sent the home side’s missed tackle count soaring, dancing through defenders to restore the 10-point cushion.
An incisive Kieran Marmion break, a sight that has become a feature of Connacht games this season paved the way for Griffin to close the gap to three points a second time, with thanks to two Dan Parks conversion.
Hope
That score proved one scare too many for the unbeaten Ospreys, who promptly shut the game down and limited further opportunities. Connacht’s hope of chasing the game took a hit as their guests laid siege to the line.
Hassler found the breach after 70 minutes and Jones grounded another close-range score with three minutes on the clock.
The six Ospreys tries were complimented by 13 points from the Biggar’s boot, the young out-half is in ominous form with Ulster and Leinster next in his sights.
