Ospreys scrape past Connacht
Ospreys moved to the top of the Magners League but were far from convincing as they struggled to a 19-17 win over Connacht.
Last Updated: 21/02/10 8:33pm
Ospreys moved to the top of the Magners League but were far from convincing as they struggled to beat bottom side Connacht 19-17 at the Liberty Stadium.
Dan Biggar, released for the game by the Wales management, contributed 14 points with a try and three penalties, but the Welsh region were forced to endure a nervy finish as Connacht battled right to end.
Along with the win, Ospreys were also able to draw encouragement from the fact that Mike Phillips made a successful comeback from injury, the Lions scrum-half coming on at half-time for his first rugby since tearing ankle ligaments last October.
Biggar found himself in the thick of the early action, first missing a drop-goal before landing a penalty from 45 metres to open the scoring.
Connacht drew level on 14 minutes with an Ian Keatley penalty and while Biggar missed another relatively easy penalty, the hosts moved back in front with their first try on 19 minutes.
Full-back Gareth Owen showed real acceleration to beat a couple of would-be tacklers before finishing well - Biggar failed to add the conversion.
Connacht thought they had notched a try of their own, only for the TV match official to rule that number eight George Naoupu had not been able to ground the ball.
But the Irishmen were rewarded on 35 minutes as Keatley added his second penalty, although Biggar did likewise shortly afterwards to ensure Ospreys went in 11-6 to the good at the interval.
Phillips emerged at half-time to a warm welcome from the home faithful and almost immediately the Ospreys opened up a 13-point lead with a penalty and try for Biggar within the first nine minutes of the restart.
The fly-half touched down in the left corner after receiving a reverse pass from Owen but once again was unable to add the extras.
Their momentum was hit when Ian Evans was shown a yellow-card for a high tackle, and with the extra man Connacht grabbed a try through hooker Sean Cronin.
The 19-11 scoreline then became 19-14 as Keatley converted a penalty from in front of the posts and, in injury time, despite being down a man due to Gavin Duffy's sin-binning, Connacht then cut the deficit to just two points with Keatley's fourth penalty.
