Hendricks treble puts Ospreys on a downer

OSPREYS...........................31 BULLS.................................38

THE Ospreys lost control of their own destiny in the battle to qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup as they fell to the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship encounter in Swansea.

Now, all they can do is hope the Stormers do them a favour when they face the Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday.

A bonus-point win for Toby Booth’s side Ospreys would have secured them the Welsh Shield and a place in next season’s European top tier. It didn’t happen, but a dramatic interception try from Luke Morgan, following a late Sam Parry score, secured them two bonus points.

Now the Scarlets have to take more than two match points against the Stormers to take the Welsh Shield and qualify for the Champions Cup.

Luke Morgan finished with two tries, with Jac Morgan and Parry also touching down, but the South Africans crossed for six in reply, with Cornal Hendricks supplying three and Canan Moodie, Madosh Tambwe and Chris Smith scoring one apiece.

The Ospreys never gave in, but the Bulls were deserved winners. They had a considerable advantage in size and power but they were also devastating attackers behind, able to cut the home defence with regularity.

Playing in the centre, hat-trick man Hendricks was sensational.

The Bulls led 12-10 at half-time, having opened as if they meant serious business.

They displayed immense power with ball in hand and in defence. When their players drove forward, invariably they made ground. When they put in tackles, the Ospreys were usually stopped dead in their tracks.

There were two tries for the visitors in the opening 20 minutes.

The first was a study in simplicity with a couple of punchy carries from a lineout play creating space for leftwing Tambwe to twirl his way over. There was more of the same not long after as the defence was pushed back before fly-half Smith made his way over. Gradually, the Ospreys got a toe-hold in the game, with Jac Morgan pointing the way.

The player omitted from Wales’ squad to tour South Africa amid suggestions he needed to improve his work over the ball snaffled a turnover and then charged away via a tapped penalty, creating the platform from where the ball was worked back with Morgan himself touching down.

With the impressive Gareth Anscombe adding a conversion to an earlier penalty, the Ospreys were back in the match.

Not for long.

Ospreys – Try: J. Morgan, L. Morgan (2), S. Parry. Con: G. Anscombe (4), Pen. G. Anscombe.

Bulls – Tries: M. Tambwe, C. Smith, C. Moodie, C. Hendricks (3), Cons: C. Smith (4).