Celtic League/Connacht 15 Ospreys 10: Connacht overturned the odds and a 15-strong international Ospreys' outfit to clinch their second successive Magners League win this season.
The visiting Welsh side, who had travelled to the Galway Sportsground as favourites to add to their opening victory over Edinburgh, fell victims to Connacht's combative style and the ability of outhalf Mark McHugh to kick long-range penalties when the opportunities arose.
McHugh kicked all five Connacht penalties - crucially two were more than 50 metres - with his 75th-minute effort putting the Irish province into the lead for the first time since the opening quarter.
And when the 81-times capped former All Black Justin Marshall was sin-binned in the 84th, it was Connacht who were flying highest in the league table.
If Marshall was culpable in the closing stages, he was the hero of the first half when he ensured the Ospreys took a 10-3 lead into the second half, courtesy of an 85-metre dash on 44 minutes.
It came after the Ospreys had survived a series of Connacht attacking phases - their best passage of play in the 98-minute game.
Centre Paul Warwick was the instigator when he cut through the Ospreys' defence, setting up winger Conor McPhillips before Shane Williams eventually nailed the supporting Matt Mostyn five metres from the line.
From the recycle Gavin Williams' clever chip was just secured by Marshall on the line, while Mostyn was once again held up short in their third assault.
However, it was McHugh's attempted grubber that landed in Marshall's hands and he had the legs against the chasing lock David Gannon and McPhillips cross-field dash to score against the run of play.
It was the only entertainment in a lacklustre opening half in which there were few line breaks by either side. The Ospreys had dominated territorially, but only Marshall posed any real threat.
Connacht, having secured a surfeit of possession through a secure lineout, including three successive steals, were rarely able to get the ball past the centres in the face of the Ospreys' rush defence.
Instead both sides had to rely on their outhalves to kick a penalty apiece until Marshall dampened Connacht spirits against the run of play.
The fightback began almost immediately after the interval when McHugh was on target from 44 metres to close the gap to 10-6. When he added a second six minutes later after Ryan Jones was penalised for a late tackle on McPhillips, the game suddenly came alive.
The Ospreys certainly upped the ante with Marshall controlling the play and but for an immense tackle by Keith Matthews, Andrew Farley and Dave Gannon, Ospreys' lock Brent Cockbain looked certain to cross.
The defensive display continued with Scottish international Nikki Walker bundled into touch five metres out before replacement hooker John Fogarty won the penalty that presented McHugh with his golden opportunity which sent Connacht into the lead.
When Marshall was sin-binned on 84 minutes, the Ospreys lost their playmaker and the game.
It was a merited victory for Connacht, who may have been short of attacking punch, but possessed oodles of defensive grit.
SCORING SEQUENCE
10m, McHugh penalty 3-0; 30m, Hook penalty 3-3; 44m, Marshall try, Hook conversion 3-10. Half time, 3-10. 46m, McHugh penalty 6-10; 53m, McHugh penalty 9-10; 75m, McHugh penalty 12-10; 88m, McHugh penalty 15-10.
THE TEAMS
CONNACHT: M Mostyn, K Matthews, P Warwick, G Williams, C McPhillips, M McHugh, C Keane, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney.
Replacements: J Fogarty for Flavin (52m), T Tierney for Keane (63m), M Diffley for Wilkisnon (68m).
Ospreys: L Byrne, N Walker, S Parker, G Henson, S Willliams, J Hook, J Marshall, D Jones, B Williams, A Jones, B Cockbain, AW Jones, A Lloyd, R Pugh, R Jones.
Replacements: R Hibbard for Williams (60m), F Tiatia for Lloyd (60m), A Bishop for Hook (64m), A Bateman for Cockbain (74m), P James for D Jones(74m).
Referee: I Heard (Scotland).
