Ospreys 22-13 Edinburgh: Ospreys move off bottom with three try victory over Edinburgh
Today at 05:37 AM
By Etienne Turpin
The Ospreys kept their unbeaten record in Bridgend going by claiming an important victory on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Tries from Lake, Thomas, and Parry helped the Ospreys ease to victory over Edinburgh who's only try came from scrumhalf Vellacott.
The Ospreys came out flying with a score inside five minutes when Edinburgh could not stop a powerful driving maul. A much improved start for the Ospreys who found themselves conceding too many early tries in recent games.
Dewi Lake crossed over for the opening score inside the first five minutes through a powerful driving maul after the Ospreys chose to kick to the corner with their first penalty of the game. Owen Williams made no mistakes with the conversion.
Edinburgh looked to strike back immediately but robust defending from the Ospreys resulted in an important turnover allowing the home side to clear.
Ross Thompson slotted over a penalty to open Edinburgh's account for the afternoon with a fine strike under the Bridgend sun to narrow the lead to four points.
Owen Williams had the opportunity to restore the seven-point lead almost straight from kick off but his penalty attempt from 40 metres drifted just wide of the posts. Edinburgh punished the Ospreys minutes later as Ben Vellacott darted over from close range following a tap and go from a penalty to go under the posts.
Duhan Van Der Merwe was then bizarrely penalised for running into the referee Griffin Colby.
Owen Williams then missed two kicks to touch as Edinburgh began to take control of the game.
It was a nightmare start to the second half for the Ospreys as scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams was sent to the sin bin following a no arms tackle on Hamish Watson.
However, Toby Booths men did not shy away from attacking rugby. Walsh temporarily switched to nine following the yellow card and found Giles in space on the wing. The flyer came close before the TMO denied the Ospreys a score.
Edinburgh then found themselves down to 14 men as Jamie Ritchie was sin binned for multiple infringements close to the try line.
Eventually, the Ospreys crashed over for their second try through Gareth Thomas, after multiple phases close to the Edinburgh line. An important score with Reuben Morgan-Williams just returning to the field following his card.
Williams extended the Ospreys lead to five points from a penalty after a clever kick put Edinburgh under pressure with the Ospreys chase managing to win the ball back.
Thompson attempted an audacious drop goal from near the halfway line and despite having the distance, his kick went just wide of the posts. However, he slotted a penalty moments later to reduce the gap back to two points with 15 minutes remaining.
Owen Williams was unable to convert any points when Edinburgh gave away a needless penalty after Kieran Williams was hit off the ball, with the Ospreys centre being forced off the pitch with a hand injury.
The Ospreys got their third try of the game when replacement Sam Parry crashed over with five minutes remaining. Owen Williams converted to give the Ospreys a two-score lead as the strong Bridgend crowd came to life.
With the clock past 80 minutes, the Ospreys had one last opportunity to get a bonus point try. Both sides were willing to attack with a bonus point at stake for both teams as Edinburgh also threatened to score at the end.
In the end, neither side were able to get a final score as the Ospreys recorded an important nine-point victory over Edinburgh in Bridgend.
Ospreys: 22
TRIES: 3 (Lake 4', Thomas 52', Parry 75')
CONVERSIONS: 2 (Williams 5', 76')
PENALTIES: 1 (Williams 61')
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Morgan-Williams 42')
RED CARDS: 0
15. Jack Walsh,14. Dan Kasende, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Keiran Williams, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Owen Williams, 9. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake, 3. Ben Warren, 4. Will Greatbanks, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Jac Morgan, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Morgan Morris.
16. Sam Parry, 17. Garyn Phillips, 18. Tom Botha, 19. Lewis Jones, 20. Lewis Lloyd, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Tom Florence, 23. Iestyn Hopkins.
Edinburgh: 13
TRIES: 1 (Vellacott 22')
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Thompson 23')
PENALTIES: 2 (Thompson 17', 66')
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Ritchie 48')
RED CARDS: 0
15. Harry Paterson, 14. Wes Goosen, 13. Matt Currie, 12. Matt Scott, 11. Duhan Van der Merwe, 10. Ross Thompson, 9. Ben Vellacott, 1. Boan Venter, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. D'Arcy Rae, 4. Marshall Sykes, 5. Jamie Hodgson, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Ben Muncaster.
16. Dave Cherry, 17. Angus Williams, 18. Paul Hill, 19. Glen Young, 20. Luke Crosbie, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Ben Healy, 23. Mosese Tuipulotu.
Five Talking Points: Ospreys 22 – 13 Edinburgh
- Ospreys victory moves them off bottom.
After five games this season, the Ospreys found themselves at the foot of the table with just one victory, but they claimed a big win against Edinburgh.
2. Ospreys remain unbeaten in Bridgend.
Following victories over Cardiff, Sale, and the Stormers, the Ospreys claimed a fourth successive win at the Dunraven Brewery Fields.
3. Front Rowers get the job done.
Tries to both hookers and prop Gareth Thomas helped the Ospreys to victory today. Despite the weather for fine running rugby, it was the big boys who got the job done for the Ospreys.
4. Kicking woes for Williams.
Owen Williams struggled from the tee today with a few kicks missing the sticks. It meant nothing in the end as the Ospreys claimed the victory but could've been an important factor had Edinburgh been more clinical in attack.
5. Italian tests await before European Cup.
Ospreys travel to Parma next month and Edinburgh host Benetton after the Autumn nations cup following the Autumn internationals. The Ospreys leapfrogged Zebre today following this weekends results to both teams.
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