Details

Date Time Competition Season
26 November 2021 7:35 pm United Rugby Championship 2021/22

Match Report

Connacht delivery big win over Ospreys

Tries by Mack Hansen, Shayne Bolton, Oran McNulty, Sam Arnold, Caolin Blade and a Conor Fitzgerald helped Connacht to a 46-18 victory over the Ospreys, in a wet and windy Sportsground this evening, they notched seven tries in the end.

The Westerners battled hard for their victory, well used to the weather conditions at the Galway venue, a horrible evening for both kickers, the wind making the sharpshooter struggle to make the target, while greasy ball conditions made handling and simple movements a treacherous ordeal.

A miserable night of weather conditions but the result certainly sent the supporters home happy, the Irish province weathering to storm to take the maximum points, securing back to back victories and their first over Welsh opposition this season.

From the start they looked stronger, Mack Hansen bundling over in the opening two minutes, Hansen starting the attack off with some great defence, the turnover getting through the phases before Jack Carty spotted him free on the other touch line, the big man side stepping in to score to make it 5-0

Stephen Myler reduced the deficit in the 10th minute, his penalty finding the target despite the goal posts swaying in the process. Carty landed a three pointer of his own to push their lead back to five midway into the first quarter, 8-3.

On his debut for the province South African Shayne Bolton scored his first try in green, he got on the end of a Hansen offload from yet another well worked attack to add the second, again the conversion failed 13-3 after 14 minutes played

Luke Morgan crossed for the Ospreys opening try in the 18th minute, but his effort was immediately cancelled out by Oran McNulty who got their third try of the evening in the 22nd minute, making it 18-8 to the Westerners. Myler added another penalty to reduce the gap to seven at half time.

Two quick tries after the restart set the tone for the second half, Sam Arnold crossing after being held near the line for a couple of phases, the centre did enough to cross, Carty making his first conversion attempt of the evening. Joe Hawkins added a second for Ospreys minutes later, almost from nothing he glided past the defence to cross under the posts, 25-18.

The end of the half was dominated by the home province, a penalty try was awarded near the hour mark for a high tackle on substitute Peter Robb, as Luke Morgan was sent to the sin bin, with two further tries added in the final ten minutes of the half, Caolin Blade and Conor Fitzgerald finishing the night off, as Carty added both conversions.

Connacht

15Oran McNulty Winger 22'
14Alex Wootton Winger
13Shayne Bolton 23 Centre 14'
12Sam Arnold 22 Centre 43'
11Mack Hansen Fly-Half 2'
10Jack Carty Fly-Half 43', 70', 78'
12'
9Kieran Marmion 21 Scrum-Half
1Matthew Burke 17 Prop
2Dave Heffernan 16 Hooker
3Finlay Bealham 18 Prop
4Niall Murray 19 Lock
5Ultan Dillane Lock
6Jarrad Butler No. 8
7Conor Oliver Flanker
8Paul Boyle 20 Flanker
16Shane Delahunt 2 Hooker
17Jordan Duggan 1 Prop
18Jack Aungier 3 Prop
19Oisin Dowling 4 Flanker
20Eoghan Masterson 8 Lock
21Caolin Blade 9 Scrum-Half 70'
22Conor Fitzgerald 12 Fly-Half 78'
23Peter Robb 13 Centre

Ospreys

15Dan Evans Full-Back
14Max Nagy 23 Full-Back
13Owen Watkin Centre
12Joe Hawkins Centre 52'
11Luke Morgan Winger 18'
59'
10Stephen Myler Fly-Half 52'
10', 30'
9Rhys Webb 21 Scrum-Half
1Nicky Smith 17 Prop
2Elvis Taione 16
3Tom Botha Prop
4Bradley Davies Lock
5Rhys Davies Lock
6Sam Cross 19 Flanker
7Jac Morgan Flanker
8Ethan Roots 20 Flanker
16Sam Parry 2 Hooker
17Gareth Thomas 1 Prop
18Rhys Henry Prop
19Will Griffiths 6 Lock
20Morgan Morris 8 Flanker
21Reuben Morgan-Williams 9 Scrum-Half
22Josh Thomas Full-Back
23Cai Evans 14 Forward

Past Meetings

(Round 8)
20 - 26
PRO14
Dexcom Stadium

Connacht v Ospreys

Ground

Dexcom Stadium
The Sportsgrounds, Galway City, County Galway, Ireland

Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.