Skip to content

Guinness PRO14 round-up: Wins for Connacht, Ospreys and Scarlets

Ifan Phillips scores his sides fifth try at the Liberty Stadium
Image: Ifan Phillips scored his side's fifth try at the Liberty Stadium

Connacht, Ospreys and Scarlets all secured victories in Round 16 of the Guinness PRO14.

The trio's victories followed Friday night wins for Munster, Edinburgh and Leinster as the domestic competition continues in earnest.

Benetton 19-22 Connacht

Centre Eoin Griffin rounded off a powerful second-half display as Connacht came from behind to defeat Benetton in Treviso.

A tight contest remained scoreless until the 36th minute, when Benetton scrum-half Tito Tebaldi touched down and fly-half Marty Banks added the conversion.

The visitors responded four minutes after the restart when prop Finlay Bealham crossed.

Winger Monty Ioane then extended Benetton's advantage when he collected a 58th-minute cross-field kick and sprinted over, although the missed conversion was to prove costly.

Connacht's Jarrad Butler scores a try in Round 16 of the Guinness PRO14
Image: Jarrad Butler scored for Connacht

Connacht flanker Jarrad Butler powered his way across the line five minutes later and after adding the conversion to level at 12-12, Jack Carty slotted a 71st minute penalty to put his side ahead for the first time.

Also See:

The visitors sealed victory when Griffin added a third try which was converted by Carty to make Marco Fuser's late effort count for little despite Banks' successful kick.

Ospreys 27-26 Cheetahs

Sam Davies kicks the match-winning conversion for Ospreys in Round 16 of the Guinness PRO14
Image: Sam Davies kicked the match-winning conversion for Ospreys

Sam Davies held his nerve to convert replacement hooker Ifan Phillips' late try and secure a single-point win against the Cheetahs at the Liberty Stadium.

The home side were staring at a potential fourth home defeat of the season in the domestic competition before Phillips powered over and Davies landed the conversion from halfway out on the right.

The Wales outside-half had already kicked two penalties and converted tries from Ashley Beck and Sam Cross.

It was a cruel end to their three-match tour for the South African side, who remain in third place in Conference B, but a welcome result for the home side.

Scarlets 34-10 Ulster

Dan Jones orchestrating proceedings for Scarlets in the Guinness PRO14
Image: Dan Jones orchestrated proceedings for Scarlets

Scarlets came from behind in order to bounce back after back-to-back Guinness PRO14 losses.

Wayne Pivac's side finished their evening's work with a bonus-point and that keeps the pressure on Leinster at the top of Conference B.

The visitors to the Parc y Scarlets had led 7-3 at the break thanks to Stuart McCloskey's try and the boot of John Cooney.

Pivac's men then delivered a much-improved second 40 minutes as they put three tries on the board with Ulster's only response being through Cooney's boot after 50 minutes.

The Welsh region have now won their last eighteen home games in the Championship at Parc y Scarlets.

Fly-half Dan Jones kicked 14 of their 34 points on the night and Wales U20 winger, Ryan Conbeer scored on his league debut for the region.

Around Sky