Connacht Close Out Season With Bonus Point Win

Connacht knocked the Ospreys out of the running for the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup with a season-closing 26-19 bonus point win at the Sportsground.

A free-scoring 48-minute first half ended with Connacht seven points clear, thanks to tries from Shane Delahunt (on his 100th cap), Bundee Aki, Ultan Dillane and Peter Sullivan.

Ospreys recovered from captain Rhys Webb’s sin-binning to cross three times – twice through hooker Sam Parry – and their impressive scrum also landed Connacht prop Dominic Robertson-McCoy in the bin.

However, there were no further scores after the break as Ospreys fell out of title contention and Connacht, so disappointed by last week’s error-strewn display at Benetton, ended their campaign on a positive note.

It was also a satisfying night’s work from Ireland centre Aki who, in advance of the British & Irish Lions tour, caught the eye with his try, strong carrying and a turnover penalty.

Ben O’Donnell’s surge from deep almost led to a stunning early try from Connacht, player-of-the-match Caolin Blade going close before Webb saw yellow for a deliberate knock-on.

The westerners immediately took advantage, hooker Delahunt piling over from an eighth-minute lineout maul. Jack Carty converted for good measure.

Ospreys snapped back with a strong forwards drive setting up flanker Morgan Morris to score, but a sliding Aki soon grounded Blade’s brilliantly-weighted kick to make it 14-5.

Thriving from quick ball, Cian Prendergast was next to break the line and Connacht duly capitalised, Delahunt driving hard before Dillane muscled in under the posts.

The maul paid dividends again for Ospreys in the 24th minute, as hooker Parry crashed over. Stephen Myler’s conversion left it 21-12.

Connacht replied with their bonus point effort, a long bouncing pass from Carty putting winger Sullivan diving past Webb in the right corner.

However, Ospreys got on top as the interval approached. They forced penalties at scrum time, eventually scoring through the powerful Parry after Robertson-McCoy’s departure.

During a much tighter third quarter, the best chance saw Ospreys’ teenage centre Joe Hawkins miss out on an excellent individual try due to a double movement.

Carty pushed a kickable 56th-minute penalty wide – with winger O’Donnell starring in the build-up – but then brilliantly came to his side’s rescue to thwart Luke Morgan from a hacked kick downfield.

Connacht’s dogged defence maintained their lead late on, replacement Kieran Marmion earning a turnover penalty after his earlier high tackle had almost put him in the bin.

While praising departing coaches Nigel Carolan and Jimmy Duffy afterwards, Connacht boss Andy Friend also spoke about the chances of some of his players lining out for Ireland next month.

“Jimmy was involved in the winning the PRO12 final, Nigel was involved in the Academy that brought so many great players through. In the few four years, both men have worked together with Pete Wilkins and had a massive impact,” said Friend.

“I’ve had the luck to work with both of them in the last three years and they’re not only good coaches but also good men.

“To Nigel and Jimmy and their respective families, we wish them every success and they will be successful wherever they go because they’re good people. I have no doubt that this is not a goodbye, it’s a ’till next time’, because they will be back.”

He added: “There’s a lot of blokes who put their hands up (for international recognition). We had a few guys drop out late through injury. Dave Heffernan dropped out through injury but Shane Delahunt was outstanding in his 100th game.

“Paul Boyle dropped out late due to injury but the back row of (Eoghan) Masterson, (Jarrad) Butler and Prendergast were outstanding.

“Alex Wootton did very well, Tom Daly continues to impress, Caolin Blade was brilliant and Jack Carty had one of his better games. I know we’ve got talent across the park, mate, and if other people don’t see it, that’s on them.

“I’m very comfortable with what we’ve got and what we’re building, and let’s hope some of these men get rewarded with Irish jerseys.”