Ospreys 43-34 Benetton - Dewi Lake bags four tries as hosts triumph

Dewi Lake scores one of four tries for Ospreys

Dewi Lake starred as Ospreys opened their Challenge Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory over Benetton.

The hooker crossed four times as momentum swung back and forth in a thrilling 10-try encounter in Swansea.

Lake was one of a handful of returning Wales internationals as Ospreys avenged last weekend's league defeat.

Onisi Ratave scored twice on the wing for the visitors, but it was ultimately an evening for the forwards and notably the Ospreys driving maul.

Ospreys had gone down 18-13 in Treviso last weekend, but welcomed back Lake, Jac Morgan and Adam Beard to bolster the pack, while George North started for the first time since confirming he will move to French club Provence at the end of the season.

Ospreys started brightly with Luke Morgan's line break sparking the attack for the opening try.

Lake was involved throughout the patient build-up before finishing off from close range for his first try.

Benetton hit straight back, as they did almost throughout, Ratave taking advantage of a simple two-on-one down his right wing.

Momentum then swung back the way of the hosts, the returning Jac Morgan carrying hard alongside Lake before releasing Gareth Thomas, who shrugged off the tackle before outstretching his arm over the try line.

Ratave then popped up on the opposite wing to bring the scores back level, the Fijian making a memorable first appearance of the season with a second score.

Ospreys retook the lead with a trademark driving maul, Lake finding his target at the lineout before latching on to the back of the pack and touching down for his second.

Benetton's latest response came through Paolo Odogwu, whose meandering run released Sebastian Negri and he did well to ride the tackle and touch down in the corner.

A penalty just before the break allowed Jacob Umaga to kick the visitors to a 24-21 advantage after an entertaining six-try half.

Ospreys skipper Morgan Morris scored the game's decisive try

Ospreys struck first in the second half and there was to be no stopping the power of Lake, who recycled after more patient play from the forwards.

But once again Benetton came straight back, Odogwu showing his finishing prowess after finding some space out wide.

Ospreys put themselves back ahead after Owen Williams' great touch-finder set up a five-metre driving lineout which again provided the carriage to get Lake over the line.

Williams and Umaga traded long-range attempts at goal as the tries momentarily dried up, but the turning point came when Benetton were reduced to 14 men.

Replacement loose-head Mirco Spagnolo was shown a yellow card for being off his feet while competing at the ruck and, backing their lineout, Ospreys kicked for touch to set up the final try of the game for Morgan Morris.

Benetton were then dealt a further blow and denied a deserved losing bonus-point when Jack Walsh kicked a penalty at the death.

Player of the match Dewi Lake said: "It was a tough game, credit to them [Benetton], they stayed in the game for 80 minutes.

"There are lots of work-ons for us in terms of being able to exit cleanly after we score tries. For a large part of the game it was us score, kick off, they score, kick off, we score.

"Credit to everyone's hard work. We worked through the week in terms of getting mauls going and things like that, I'm just lucky that I get to be the one on the end of it.

"First game in Europe, first win, bonus point, we could not ask for more."

Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins; Luke Morgan, George North, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Fender, Adam Beard, Rhys Davies, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris (capt).

Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Ben Warren, Harri Deaves, Tristan Davies, Luke Davies, Jack Walsh, Mat Protheroe.

Benetton: Edoardo Padovani; Paolo Odogwu, Ignacio Brex, Malakai Fekitoa, Onisi Ratave; Jacob Umaga, Andy Uren; Thomas Gallo, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (capt), Lorenzo Cannone.

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Filippo Alongi, Gideon Koegelenberg, Riccardo Favretto, Toa Halafihi, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Leonardo Marin.

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (Fra)

Assistant referees: Baptiste Nuchy & Pierre Bru (Fra)

TMO: Patrick Dellac (Fra)

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