Anscombe keeps the Ospreys flying high
GARETH Anscombe reminded Wayne Pivac of his quality with a polished performance as he kicked the Ospreys to a solid home win over Cardiff.
The Wales management were in attendance for what was a dire game of rugby but will have been impressed by Anscombe who kicked all 18 of his side’s points, while openside flanker Jac Morgan was also mightily impressive.
Anscombe, in only his second competitive game back after a long injury lay off, gave the hosts an early lead with a tremendous penalty from halfway.
The Ospreys pack held the upper hand, but they would have been wary of a dangerous Cardiff backline. And Anscombe doubled the home side’s lead with another three points after Seb Davies was penalised for an early tackle.
Cardiff finally got in the Ospreys half winning a penalty in the process. Rhys Priestland lined up to take the shot at goal with the kick hitting one of the posts. What should have been dealt with comfortably by the hosts turned into a disaster as Owen Watkin hesitated and Wales wing Josh Adams pounced to score on his first appearance since the Lions tour.
The Ospreys responded by turning the screw up front with their maul and scrum putting their visitors under pressure.
With Cardiff feeling the heat, scrum-half Tomos Williams tackled Luke Morgan without wrapping his arms, and he was punished with ten minutes on the side-lines.
The Ospreys were also temporarily reduced to 14 men with centre Michael Collins sent to the sin bin for a deliberate slap down just when Hallam Amos had worked an overlap.
Anscombe kicked yet another penalty after Cardiff crumbled at the scrum.
The last 90 seconds of the first half was extremely hectic as Anscombe intercepted just outside his 22 and chipped ahead. Owen Lane covered, but instead of taking the safe option and kicking the ball dead Amos decided to run it as he galloped up the touchline.
But a promising move came to an end with tighthead Tomas Francis winning a penalty at the breakdown meaning the hosts turned around with a 12-7 lead.
Cardiff came out of the blocks firing in the second half with some strong carries deep in the Ospreys 22.
And after a period of
sustained pressure some lovely handling from Williams and Rhys Carre allowed Lane to touch down in the right-hand corner, with Priestland converting from the touchline. But the Ospreys retook the lead almost immediately through Anscombe’s boot.
The hosts struggled whenever Cardiff went wide but a number of unforced errors undermined the visitors’ attacking game. Some fresh legs from the bench galvanised the Ospreys who should have scored their first try, only for Morgan Morris to knock on with the line at his mercy. Anscombe extended their lead with yet another successful penalty from 40 metres out on an angle. Apart from a late counter-attack from Matthew Morgan, the Ospreys were able to close the game out to remain unbeaten this season.