North causes Edinburgh to lose direction

OSPREYS 17 EDINBURGH 13

EDiNBUrGH felt the full force of George North as they fell to an opening-round defeat by the ospreys in swansea. The powerful wales and lions wing touched down twice on his competitive debut for the club — meaning richard Cockerill’s side had to make do with a losing bonus point.

all the scots could muster was a late try from Blair Kinghorn, two penalties from simon Hickey and a conversion by Jaco van der walt.

it may have been billed as an exciting new era for the Pro14 but the rugby on show in the first 40 minutes was tantamount to watching paint dry.

Edinburgh found themselves on the back foot during the early exchanges and came close to conceding the first try.

after a period of pressure from the hosts, scott williams put through a neat grubber kick which created a race between Henry Pyrgos and ospreys full-back Dan Evans.

The home side were confident their man had won the race but upon referral to the TMo, the try was ruled out after a superb piece of scramble defence by Pyrgos.

Cockerill’s side remained under the cosh with ospreys hooker scott otten’s foot brushing the touchline just as he stretched out for the whitewash.

ospreys outside-half luke Price — controversially selected ahead of wales international sam Davies — missed his first kick at goal after the visitors were penalised at the scrum.

But the welsh side’s wastefulness kept the scots in the contest and they were able to build some pressure of their own. Edinburgh showed their power with their tight forwards making yards as the visitors kept the game tight in the ospreys 22.

Hickey finally opened the scoring for the visitors after half an hour with a penalty from 30 metres after Tom Botha was judged offside.

Price immediately levelled for the hosts with a penalty due to Edinburgh infringing at the breakdown, sending the teams in at the interval level at 3-3.

Edinburgh came out firing in the second half with new signing Pierre schoeman impressing with his dynamic ball carrying. The south african loose-head’s burst upfield put last season’s quarter-finalists on the front foot.

But just as the visitors seemed to be making headway in the ospreys 22, alun wyn Jones won a penalty at the breakdown with a well-timed tackle after Viliame Mate had carried into contact.

The scots then came close to a try when Murray McCallum was held up over the try line by aled Davies. But despite missing out on seven points, Hickey put the visitors ahead again with a penalty from in front of the posts.

However, it was the ospreys who grabbed the first try when — against the run of play — the ball was spun wide in Edinburgh’s 22, resulting in North crossing at the left-hand corner for a try. sam Davies added the extras to give the hosts a 10-6 lead.

Despite the momentum shift, Cockerill’s side were not finished and got themselves back on the front foot when Hamish watson burst back into the welsh side’s 22. But after going through a few phases the ball was knocked forward. Time and time again the scots looked as if they would cross the ospreys try line but whenever they entered the red zone their attack was undermined by unforced errors.

North put ospreys further ahead when he ran in unopposed from 65 metres due to the hosts turning the ball over when on the attack. Davies converted again.

But Kinghorn ensured an exciting finish, powering over from short range, van der walt converting.

Edinburgh pressed hard late on with a powerful driving lineout but a key intervention from Justin Tipuric denied the visitors.

SCORERS: OSPREYS — Tries: North (2). Cons: Davies (2). Pen: Price. EDINBURGH — Try: Kinghorn. Con:

Van der Walt. Pens: Hickey (2).