Five on the trot for table-topping Connacht

Connacht welcomed an Ospreys side in search of a fourth straight league win of their own to the Sportsground and flew out the blocks with early tries from man-of-the-match Bundee Aki and AJ MacGinty.

Ben John and Dan Baker each crossed over for the visitors before the break but Healy – the leading try-scorer in the Pro12 and coming into the game off the back of a hat-trick against Zebre – scored after it.

Last season's leading try-scorer, Rhys Webb, dotted down to bring the Ospreys back into it but the reliable boot of Craig Ronaldson got the home side over the line.

Connacht flew out the blocks and, after they spread the ball through the backs, Aki went over inside the first minute and Ronaldson converted.

But Sam Davies didn't have to wait long to hit back for the visitors, who were awarded a penalty at the breakdown, and he duly made it 7-3 from the tee.

The hosts returned with interest but when Tiernan O'Halloran was dragged into touch inside their own 22 after ten minutes, the Ospreys had a chance to clear their lines.

Ben Marshall had other ideas, though, stealing the line-out before Niyi Adeolokun made a sharp break and fed MacGinty to score, Ronaldson slotting the extras from by the touchline.

The game's flying start was not over, however, and before the quarter-hour mark Ospreys had their first try, John crossing over after a quick-tap penalty.

The conversion bounced back off the post but just ten minutes later they were ahead, Baker dotting down after waves of Ospreys attacks and Davies' extras making it 15-14.

Ronaldson – on his 50th Connacht appearance – restored the lead with a penalty shortly before the half-hour mark and that's the way it stayed until the break, despite the Irish province pressing for a third try in the half's closing stages.

Connacht showed their intent by kicking a string of early second-half penalties to the corner but Rodney Ah You spilt the ball forward and the Welshmen cleared their lines.

It was another stolen Ospreys line-out that set up Connacht's third try, Daniel Qualter the thief before Ronaldson fed Healy to spin away from his tackler and score.

Ronaldson converted but just three minutes later Rhys Webb flew between the Connacht posts to reduce the deficit, Davies' conversion making it 24-22.

A Ronaldson penalty eased the gap to five points and Davies thought he had wiped it out altogether on 65 minutes only for the TMO to rule double movement.

Ronaldson made it eight from the tee, after a superb Aki break had taken Connacht out of their own 22 and into Ospreys territory, before Ospreys wasted a golden opportunity.

Olly Cracknell was hauled down shy of the whitewash but, when the ball was recycled, Webb's pass couldn't find either of the players waiting on the blind side with a clear passage to the line.

They pushed a probed for a fourth try and, at the very least, two bonus points but Connacht held firm to send the Ospreys home empty-handed.

The scorers:

For Connacht:

Tries: Aki, Healy, MacGinty

Cons: Ronaldson 3

Pens: Ronaldson 3

For Ospreys:

Tries: John, Baker, Webb

Cons: Davies 2

Pens: Davies

Teams:

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 John Muldoon (captain), 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 George Naoupu, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 James Connolly, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Peter Robb.

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Ben John, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Olly Cracknell, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 James King, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Paul James (captain).

Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Jordan Collier, 21 Brendon Leonard, 22 Owen Watkin, 23 Eli Walker.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Andy Brace, John Carvill (both Ireland)

TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)

Source: @PRO12rugby