Connacht suffered another blow to their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign on Saturday night when they were beaten 17 6 by the Ospreys in the Sportsground.

Connacht took a well deserved lead after 15 minutes through the boot of Miah Nikora after John Muldoon recovered a scrappy lineout ball and drove deep into the Ospreys 22. Rodney Ah You rumbled on and Connacht were unlucky not to cross the whitewash but were very much in the driving seat as the stormforce winds swirled around the Sportsground.

Ospreys outhalf Matthew Morgan levelled the game after 19 minutes with a penalty and, after half an hour gone on the clock, crossed for the 1^st of 2 Ospreys trys of the night. He converted to leave the visitors 10 3 up but Nikora brought Connacht back into the game with another penalty 5 minutes later but that was to be the last Connacht score of the night. Despite Ian Gough being sinbinned and several opportunities Connacht were unable to convert their pressure into points and when Sonny Parker crossed for the Ospreys 2^nd try he put Connacht out of contention for a bonus point.

Connacht enjoyed the majority of possession for the last quarter but were unable to break down the Ospreys defence and the final score finished at Connacht 6 Ospreys 17

Connacht:

Gavin Duffy, Brian Tuohy, Dave McSharry, Henry Fa’afili, Tiernan O’Halloran, Miah Nikora, Paul O’Donohoe, Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Rodney  Ah You, Dave Gannon, George Naoupu, TJ Anderson, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa

Replacements:

Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney, Stewart Maguire, Mick Kearney, Eoghan Grace, Frank Murphy, Niall O’Connor, Mark McCrea

Ospreys:

Barry Davies, Tommy Bowe, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Richard Fussell, Matthew Morgan, Rhys Webb, Duncan Jones, Richard hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Ian Gough, James King, Thomas Smith (C), Chauncey O’Toole, Joe Bearman

Replacements:

Mefin Davies, Cai Griffiths, Joe ReesLloyd Peers, George Stowersm Thomas Isaacs, Sonny Parker, Willem Dirksen

Pictures (C) www.inpho.ie / James Crombie