Luke’s late show is silver lining for the Ospreys

THE Ospreys may have ended their season with a home defeat to the Bulls, but they had plenty to celebrate after a late Luke Morgan try cemented their place in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.

With 15 minutes remaining the Ospreys were staring into the abyss as they trailed Jake White’s side by 19 points after they were floored by a Cornal Hendricks hat-trick.

But two tries in the final three minutes from Sam Parry, and Luke Morgan ensured the Ospreys took two match points out of the game to leave the Scarlets in need of a miracle against the Stormers.

“I am frustrated but my overriding feeling is one of proudness around the character shown by the team,” said Ospreys head coach Toby Booth.

“This game probably reflected a lot of our season. There were lots of mountains to overcome on and off the pitch. This is the end of my second season and I’m much clearer now on who can do what, and where that can take us.”

It took the Bulls three minutes to open the scoring with a couple of powerful carries putting them on the front foot before a pass from Zak Burger allowed Madosh Tambwe to touch down. Outside-half Chris Smith glided over to stretch the lead.

Gareth Anscombe’s penalty got Ospreys on the board and a few minutes before half-time Jac Morgan burrowed his way over the line for their first try. Anscombe added the extras meaning the Bulls turned around with a 13-10 lead.

The Ospreys’ momentum got extinguished very early in the secondhalf when Hendricks sliced through the defence before drawing in the final defender to put Canan Moodie over. Hendricks was soon celebrating his own try after he showed tremendous pace to run in unopposed from 35m.

Ospreys pulled a try back with a terrific finish in the corner from wing Luke Morgan from a grubber kick by Anscombe who then converted. But Hendricks scored his second try when he brushed aside a weak tackle from George North and he claimed hit hat-trick after a loose kick from Michael Collins.

But the Ospreys struck for two late tries when Parry sneaked over, before Luke Morgan intercepted a pass to run in unopposed from 60m.