United Rugby Championship: Ospreys 36-21 Lions - Hosts climb four places into play-off spots

Sam Parry marked his 150th Ospreys appearance with a try - and a yellow card

Ospreys moved back into the United Rugby Championship play-off spots with a comfortable win over Lions in Swansea.

Tom Botha and Sam Parry crossed in the first half before Morgan Morris and Lewis Lloyd wrapped up a bonus point.

PJ Botha, Quan Horn and Richard Kriel hit back for Lions.

But Keiran Williams grabbed a late fifth try as Ospreys capitalised on defeats for Connacht and Edinburgh to climb four places to seventh.

An erratic and loose match that saw 18 turnovers meant little structure or pattern from either side at Swansea.com Stadium, but Ospreys will care little after getting back to winning ways following two defeats.

Lions had won their previous nine meetings with Welsh opposition but Toby Booth was able to recall Wales trio Adam Beard, Gareth Thomas and Owen Watkin after Six Nations duty.

The hosts started on the front foot when prop Botha barged over from close range in the fifth minute.

Parry then doubled the lead when he finished a smart break by scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams to cap his milestone 150th appearance with a try.

The hooker's eventful first half continued when he was at the heart of an impressive defensive goalline stand before being shown a yellow card for a cynical foul at a ruck.

Opposite number PJ Botha benefited as Lions took advantage of the yellow card before half-time.

But after two Bothas scored in the first half, the start of the second was about two Morgans.

Lions prop Morgan Naude was sent to the sin-bin for a tip-tackle on Justin Tipuric and Ospreys made the extra number count.

Luke Morgan went close before man of the match Morris finished a series of drives with a smart finish from five metres out.

Parry's replacement Lloyd then secured a bonus point from an 11-man driving maul just before the hour.

Osprey Evardi Boshoff saved a try when he denied flanker Emmanuel Tshituka over the line, but a missed tackle by centre partner Watkin allowed Horn to score Lions' second.

Kriel squeezed in for a third as Lions threatened to pinch two bonus points that could be crucial in such a tight contest for the play-offs.

But Ospreys held out before Keelan Giles beat three men to hand Keiran Williams a late score and secure a win that keeps Ospreys' league season alive.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: "That was a really important win because we know how tight things are in the table for the play-offs. It's just great that we're right in the mix.

"We prepared well because we knew they have a big set-piece but we were disciplined and showed real game management to not allow them to use that.

"We showed real desire and effort in defence and the exciting thing is that there's still plenty of growth in this team."

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Evardi Boshoff, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Max Nagy, Keiran Williams.

Sin-bin: Parry (32)

Lions: Quan Horn; Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Marius Louw (capt), Edwill van der Merwe; Jordan Hendrikse, Sanele Nohamba; JP Smith, PJ Botha, Conraad van Vuuren, Etienne Oosthuizen, Reinhard Nothnagel, JC Pretorius, Emmanuel Tshituka, Francke Horn

Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Morgan Naude, Ruan Dreyer, Darrien Landsberg, Izan Esterhuizen, Hanru Sirgel, Morne van den Berg, Stean Pienaar

Sin-bin: Naude (47)

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Tom Spurrier, Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)