Ospreys 29-7 Connacht: Welsh side move top of PRO12
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 07/01/17 4:10pm
The Ospreys went three points clear at the top of the Guinness PRO12 with a 29-7 bonus-point victory over injury-hit Connacht at the Liberty Stadium.
The tries came from man of the match Dan Baker, Olly Cracknell and Nicky Smith, with Ashley Beck sealing the bonus-point score in the final minute.
Sam Davies kicked three conversions to take him past 500 points for the region but he was yellow-carded for a high tackle late in the second half.
Defending champions Connacht's points came from a try from flanker Sean O'Brien, converted by John Cooney.
The Irish province started brightly enough but were undone by Ospreys' impressive overloading game as the home side scored two fine tries in the space of three minutes.
The first was started with a pinpoint flat pass from Davies which put Cracknell through a hole in midfield. After going through the phases Baker crashed over for Davies to convert.
Ospreys' great brand of rugby continued as a break down the right ended with Davies putting the in-form Cracknell over by the posts. Davies converted to make it 14-0 after 14 minutes.
Despite Ospreys having real momentum, wing Matt Healy made a break up the left and a score was only prevented by a last-ditch tackle by Beck.
On 29 minutes, more good attacking rugby by Ospreys saw Justin Tipuric go over in the right corner but when it was reviewed by TMO Neil Paterson the score was ruled out for a knee in touch.
Connacht were not helped that they lost both Jack Heenan and Jack Carty during the first half, the latter to a suspected ACL injury, and were somewhat fortunate to be just 14-0 down at the break.
Five minutes into the second half Ospreys extended their lead through a Davies penalty after a high tackle on Tom Habberfield by Tom McCartney.
Connacht lost a lineout in the Ospreys 22 which proved costly as the home side worked their way upfield, ending with prop Nicky Smith squeezing over for the third try.
Davies went to the sin bin on 69 minutes for a high tackle and the Irishmen showed character to hit back as O'Brien went over for a try down the right after picking up a loose ball.
With time running out 14-men Ospreys went on one last desperate attack in search of the bonus point and it came when Beck slid over in the left corner.
