All-action Tipuric leads rout of the Cheetahs

THE Ospreys demolished the Cheetahs with a seven try masterclass in Swansea to cap off their best start to a league season since 2014.

It rained tries at the Liberty with a brace from Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones plus a score each from Scott Otten, George North and Alex Jeffries while Sam Davies contributed 11 points from the boot.

Man-of-the-match Tipuric was delighted: “It was great to score,” said Tipuric. “The forwards with the driving maul made it easy for me to score.

“We don’t want to get carried away because we’ve got a tough game next weekend against Munster.”

The Cheetahs could manage only two tries from Jasper Wiese and Sibhale Maxwane.

The home side started the game strongly with a sumptuous no-look inside pass from Tipuric putting Jones over for his first.

Giant No 8. Wiese hit back for the Cheetahs when he held off James King to touch down under the posts.

But the Ospreys wasted no time in retaking the lead with Tipuric yet again the architect of their second try with a lovely inside pass which set North charging up the middle of the field.

North was tackled just short of the line but the ball was quickly recycled for Otten to cross from short range.

And the Liberty Stadium outfit turned the screw just before half time when, after a driving lineout, the ball was spun wide by Scott Williams to put North over in the far left hand corner for his third try in two games.

The Ospreys dominated the second half and secured the try bonus point when replacement tight head prop Jeffries smashed his way over the try line after a powerful driving lineout from the hosts.

After creating two tries Tipuric capped an allaction display with a score of his own after another powerful driving lineout.

Cheetahs refused to throw in the towel with Maxwane chipping over the top before showing his pace to score.

Tipuric grabbed his brace by burrowing over after another powerful surge by the Ospreys eight. Wales legend Jones scored their seventh try.