European Challenge Cup: Ospreys 51-20 Stade Francais

Cory Allen scored two tries against Worcester on 20 October

Ospreys have risen to top of their Challenge Cup pool after a bonus point victory over Stade Francais.

Ospreys centre Cory Allen scored his second brace of the campaign, with Rhodri Jones, Luke Morgan and Owen Watkin also crossing.

Stade wings Jimmy Yobo and Julien Arias scored in either half, with both side's fly halves, Sam Davies and Morne Steyn having a good afternoon with the boot.

But Ospreys were dealt a blow when prop Nicky Smith went off injured early on.

Either side of an exchange of penalties, Allen got the first try of the afternoon after some good pressure and a half-break from Davies.

But celebrations were cut short when Ospreys lost two of their props after just 15 minutes; Smith was helped off with an ankle injury while Ma'afu Fia, who would return to the fray later, was taken off for a head injury assessment.

Stade levelled the scores after Yobo finished off some strong running from his backs in the corner, but it was short-lived when Allen latched onto a missed pass from Davies for his second.

Davies added a penalty before the break, before Stade were reduced to 14 when Mailetoa Hingano was sin-binned for killing the ball.

Wales prop Nicky Smith could no be a doubt for the Ospreys' upcoming derbies

Ospreys took advantage of the extra man when substitute Jones showed an impressive turn of speed for a prop to score a breakaway try.

Stade's ill-discipline saw them reduced to 14 for a second time when prop Stephane Clement was shown yellow for illegally pulling down a driving maul.

Ospreys took advantage of their dominance in the scrum and after successive penalties, referee Tom Foley went straight under the posts to award a penalty try.

Stade wing Arias showed how dangerous the Parisian side can be with a try from nothing, but it proved too little too late for the visitors.

Ospreys added two more tries in the dying minutes, wing Morgan taking advantage of the wet conditions to slide over, while replacement centre Watkin took them past the 50 point mark with a well-read interception.

Ospreys head coach Allen Clarke said: "It would have been the perfect day, but unfortunately we lost Nicky Smith.

"It's ankle, low ankle. It got caught and extended. They never look good.

"I'm not going to predict the scan, but I would suggest it's not going to be one or two weeks.

"As a team it's job done. We set our stall out to get a win."

Clarke added they will "definitely rotate some players" for the reverse fixture in Paris on Friday, 14 December.

"Going into that festive period it's going to be important that we have fresh bodies," he said.

"We know we have a job to do, it's going to be a big ask over there but we want to put in a performance where we get something out of the game."

Ospreys: Dan Evans; George North, Scott Williams, Cory Allen, Luke Morgan; Sam Davies, Aled Davies; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Ma'afu Fia, Lloyd Ashley, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric (capt), Sam Cross

Replacements: Scott Otten, Rhodri Jones, Tom Botha, James King, Guido Volpi, Tom Habberfield, James Hook, Owen Watkin.

Stade Francais: Tony Ensor; Julien Arias, Mailetoa Hingano, Alex Arrate, Jimmy Yobo; Morne Steyn, Clement Daguin; Stephane Clement, Laurent Sempere (capt), Giorgi Melikidze, Mathieu de Giovanni, Alexandre Flanquart, Sylvain Nicolas, Hendre Stassen,Ryan Chapuis.

Replacements: Laurent Panis, Siegfried Fisiihoi, Moses Alo-Emile, Willem Alberts, Charlie Francoz, Andre Warner, Lester Etien, Djibril Camara.

Referee: Tom Foley (England)

Assistants: Dean Richards (England), Roy Maybank (England)