Smith seeks complete display
OSPREYS Select head coach Tom Smith wants a complete performance from his side when they tackle Bedford at Aberavon’s Talbot Athletic Ground in the British & Irish Cup tonight (7.30pm).
Three defeats from as many matches in Pool One means the Ospreys’ chances of progressing are all but over – with a postponed game at Nottingham still yet to be rearranged.
They have impressed in stages of all three matches so far, but have ultimately come up short and means there is now little more than pride to play for in the remaining matches.
English Championship club Bedford, who are coached by former Cardiff and Wales international full-back Mike Rayer, won the reverse fixture 43-19 back in October.
With 15 points from four matches, they also currently have the edge on holders Munster A at the top of the pool by two points, with Nottingham and Ospreys on five and one point respectively from three matches.
Smith said: “Ill-discipline probably cost us the result in our last game against Nottingham.
“We definitely let it slip and got what we deserved from a second half performance where we ended up just killing ourselves.
“But you learn more from losing than winning and it’s about the boys learning from it and not making the same mistakes and putting ourselves in positions that let teams back in the game.
“The performance first half when we went to Bedford is one we’ll look to replicate and, with home advantage in Aberavon, finish the job off this time with a strong, full 80-minute performance.”
Meanwhile, in Pool Three, pride is definitely all that the Dragons Select side, who are in Jersey tonight, have left to play for (7.45pm).
James Chapron’s men have just three bonus points to show for their efforts so far which seen them lose all four of their matches.
One of those was a comprehensive 34-7 defeat by the Channel Islanders at Ystrad Mynach.