Coming in from the break for the autumn internationals, the Ospreys will be looking to continue their run of form having defeated Munster in Swansea in the last round of the URC.
However, it was Connacht that game out with guns blazing, with winger Mack Hansen dancing over the line for a try after just two minutes. Connacht outside half Jack Carty and Ospreys outside half Stephen Myler exchanged penalties before the home side centre Shayne Bolton crossed for his side’s second of the evening.
Ospreys earnt themselves a try shortly afterwards, as Ospreys winger Luke Morgan hunted down a hacked through ball by centre Owen Watkin to score; but Connacht’s fullback Oran McNulty burst through the defence to score a third try for his side shortly afterwards.
The visitors strung some phases together after half an hour and applied a lot of pressure on the hosts, who yielded a series of penalties, allowing Myler to nudge the ball between the posts for three points ahead of the interval.
Half time score: Connacht 18 Ospreys 11
@ospreys out here playing football 😏#URC | #CONOSP pic.twitter.com/GtouOOadIW
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Connacht had a dream start to the second half with centre Sammy Arnold getting his name on the scoresheet after a strong kick return from the hosts, with Carty converting the score to make it 25-11.
Ospreys' scrumhalf and captain Rhys Webb linked up with young centre Joe Hawkins who scored a wonderful try under the posts to bring the Ospreys back within a score.
But it was all Connacht from that point onwards. A penalty try was followed by tries from scrumhalf Caolin Blade and replacement back Conor Fitzgerald; meaning Connacht ran out comfortable winners at the end of the 80 minutes.
Final score: Connacht 46 Ospreys 18
