Ospreys continued their dominance of the Lions

12/08/2024 12:44 PM

MATCH REPORT: Ospreys taught a decaying Lions team a dear lesson in the European game, beating them 30-14 in their Round One Challenge Cup match - a fixture moved to Llanelli.

Due to structural damages at the Swansea Stadium - caused by Storm Darragh - the match was relocated to Parc y Scarlets.

It was the third successive loss of the year for the Lions and also their third successive defeat at the hands of Ospreys.

Ospreys, led by inspirational No.8 Jac Morgan, outscored the visitors by four tries to two to go top of Pool Two.

The Lions' game-drivers were their biggest let-downs.

Sam Francis' kicking boot let him down badly in the first half, allowing the home to take a six-point (13-7) lead into the half-time break.

Captain and scrumhalf Nico Steyn also caused his team plenty of problems with his poor decision-making and execution.

Sanele Nohamba is another player who did his reputation more harm than good with some poor decision-making and execution.

* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

* Article continues below ...

The Lions opened the scoring after a scrappy opening 10 minutes - hooker Franco Marais getting the armchair ride from a powerful maul. Sam Francis added the conversion - his only first-half success - for a 7-0 lead to the visitors.

Ospreys flyhalf Owen Williams slotted a penalty just past the 20-minute mark, before Lions flank JC Pretorius was yellow-carded for what referee Kevin Bralley deemed a 'cynical' foul - not releasing the ball in the tackle.

With a man up, Ospreys quickly took advantage and after several phases and forward rushes captain Jac Morgan barged over from close range. Williams slotted the conversion and a penalty late in the half to give the hosts a six-point (13-7) lead at the half-time break.

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Ospreys, on the back of two penalties, made the Lions pay for their poor discipline - Keelan Giles going over in the left corner after some sublime handling. Williams was wide of the mark, but the home team held an 11-point (18-7) lead.

Kieran Hardy then intercepted inside his half from the restart and sprinted 60 metres for the try. This time Williams added the conversion - 25-7 after 50 minutes.

The Ospreys captain, Morgan, picked up a ball behind a ruck and darted over. The TMO had several looks at an incident in which Morgan shoved Steyn out of the way. Cedric Marchat ruled that Morgan was indeed offside and not allowed to play the ball.

Throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Ospreys, the Lions continued to be their own worst enemies with errors and brain fades.

Four minutes from time the Lions eventually got a consolation try - centre Erich Cronje finishing off a move that started with a line-out maul, some forwards raids and a few passes eventually sticking. Sanele Nohamba slotted the conversion - 14-25.

However, Ospreys rubbed salt into the Lions' festering wounds with replacement Dan Edwards getting a bonus-point try in the minute - the home team winning 30-14.

The scorers

For Ospreys
Tries: Morgan, Giles, Hardy, Edwards
Cons: Williams 2
Pens: Williams 2

For then Lions
Tries: Marais, Cronje
Cons: Francis, Nohamba

Yellow card: JC Pretorius (Lions, 27 - cynical foul, not releasing in the tackle)

Teams

Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Jac Morgan (captain), 7 Harri Deaves, 6 Tristan Davies, 5 James Fender, 4 Will Greatbanks, 3 Ben Warren, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Morgan Morris, 21 Luke Davies, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.

Lions: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Nico Steyn (captain), 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Ruhan Straeuli, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Marius Louw.

Referee: Kevin Bralley
Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie, Flavien Hourquet
TMO: Cedric Marchat

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