Connacht started this round 8 Magners League game brightly and took the lead on three minutes with a sweet penalty kick from out-half Miah Nikora. The former New Zealand underage international then doubled the advantage on 7 minutes with a huge penalty from out near the touchline. Connacht kept applying the pressure early on. Fionn Carr almost put captain John Muldoon through after a devastating break. A big push from the Connacht pack in the scrum on 18 minutes resulted in another penalty from Nikora bringing the score to 9-0. On 21 minutes the visitors got a penalty against the run of play which out-half Matthew Morgan duely slotted over. Connacht maintained the pressure on the Ospreys defence. Captain John Muldoon was penalised for crossing on 24 minutes when a certain try was on.On 31 minutes Connacht turned the ball over in the Ospreys half. Some fast offloading rugby sent Fionn Carr over in the corner, but the referee judged that the ball was held up. The Ospreys were awarded anothe penalty on 35 minutes which Morgan kicked to bring the scrore 9-6. He almost levelled matters on 38 minutes but sent his kick wide. Half-time score in the Sportsground, Connacht 9-6 Ospreys.

The second half started with the Ospreys excerting pressure. The got the chance to level the scores on 45 minutes but full-back Gareth Owen missed a penalty from halfway. The game ebbed and flowed with the Ospreys on the front foot but Miah Nikora had the chance to extend Connacht's lead on 55 minutes but sent the penalty wide. One of the main talking points of the game happened on 57 minutes when Connacht lock Bernie Upton was sent to the bin for an alleged punch. The Welsh side took their advantage and on 60 minutes Matthew Morgan slotted over a drop-goal to level the match. Connacht started to make changes after that with Ezra Taylor replacing Bernie Upton after his sin binning. On 71 minutes Connacht were awarded another penalty which Nikora scored. Two minutes later he kicked another to bring the score to 15-9 in favour of the home side. The fans in the Sportsground began to dream. However their hopes were dashed two minutes from the end when substitute Barry Davies broke through the cover to score a try under the posts. Morgan added the conversion to give the visitors a one point lead. But there was one final roll of the dice for Connacht. The referee awarded them a penalty in front of the stands. With the clock ticking past 80 minutes, Miah Nikora had the chance to seal a victory but it was not to be. In the end it was a one point game in favour of the Ospreys. Final score in the Sportsground, Connacht 15-16 Ospreys. Next up for Connacht is an away trip to Edinburgh where Eric Elwood's men will look to bounce back.

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