Game of two halves as Ospreys hit back for win

CARDIFF RUGBY................6 OSPREYS............................22

THE Ospreys edged a scrappy Welsh derby against Cardiff yesterday afternoon, claiming a 22-6 victory at the Arms Park.

The first half never really sparked into life. The Ospreys controlled possession and territory but were playing into a stiff breeze and a stubborn Cardiff.

The visitors turned down a kickable early penalty and went to the corner only to be penalised for obstruction as Dewi Lake crashed over the line.

In the fourth minute, with very little danger as the Ospreys probed around halfway, Owen Lane threw out a hand to knock down a wide pass. Referee Gianluca Gnecchi had little hesitation in brandishing a yellow card.

Shortly after, Toby Booth’s side were once again in position but saw their maul smothered into touch on the far side. Then Keelan Giles missed an opportunity when Rhys Webb kicked a ball into the space vacated by Lane but, with the line at Giles’ mercy, the ball refused to sit up and he knocked it on.

A turgid half of rugby followed, which included scrappy mistakes from both sides. The game never found its rhythm and it turned into a drab, end-of-season affair. The 10,075 fans at the Arms Park had to wait until the 27th for some points when Rhys Priestland clipped over a penalty that put his side into the lead.

The Ospreys thought they’d scored again towards the end of the half, when Michael Collins barged his way over but he was deemed to have been held up, bringing the half to a close.

Priestland doubled Cardiff’s lead early in the second half and Gareth Anscombe replied with a long range penalty before the game’s first try, which came in the 55th minute.

The visitor dabbed another kickable penalty into the corner and this time it came off. The driving maul did much of the damage before powerful hooker Lake crashed his way over again. The TMO would not save Cardiff this time and Anscombe converted.

Five minutes later and they were in again, this time it came gift-wrapped. Priestland looked for width but Webb had shot out of the defensive line. The fly-half threw the pass anyway, Webb gathered and raced 55 metres under the sticks.

The visitors were rumbling now and added a third after Webb saw another try ruled out when replacement Sam Parry crashed over following a smart move at the lineout.