Ospreys climb off foot of URC with Edinburgh win

Wales prop Gareth Thomas scored one of Ospreys' three tries

United Rugby Championship

Ospreys (7) 22

Tries: Lake, Thomas, Parry Cons: Williams 2 Pen: Williams

Edinburgh (10) 13

Try: Vellacott Con: Thompson Pens: Thompson 2

Ospreys continued their love affair with Bridgend, securing a much-needed win over Edinburgh to climb off the bottom of the United Rugby Championship.

Ospreys had won on their three previous visits to the Brewery Field and were desperate to make it a fourth after a poor run of results.

They got off to a perfect start but inaccuracy and indiscipline let Edinburgh back into the game, with Ben Vellacott cancelling out Dewi Lake’s early effort.

Ospreys took control in the second half with Lake's fellow front rowers Gareth Thomas and Sam Parry crossing from close range to secure the win and deny the visitors a losing bonus-point.

Both sides were boosted by the return of several internationals in the final game before the URC break, including Wales trio Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Adam Beard.

Matt Scott led out Edinburgh on his 100th appearance but Ospreys started brightly, something they had not done so far this season, and were rewarded with an early try.

They won a penalty deep in Edinburgh territory and instead of an attempt at posts, they backed their driving lineout and kicked to touch.

Lake, this week named Wales captain for the autumn internationals, found target man Justin Tipuric and once the maul gained momentum, there was little Edinburgh could do and Lake touched down.

But for all their initial good work, Ospreys’ inaccuracy let them down.

Duhan van der Merwe showed his threat with a storming run after a loose kick from Reuben Morgan-Williams, and while Ospreys survived, their penalty count crept up and Ross Thompson kicked three points.

The visitors took the lead on 20 minutes after Beard was penalised for offside when skipper Vellacott took a quick-tap penalty and dived under the posts.

Ospreys' attack was easily defended and they were not helped when fly-half Williams twice missed touch - as well as three efforts at goal - while Edinburgh looked comfortable at 10-7 ahead at the break.

Ospreys had to tidy up their discipline but lost scrum-half Morgan-Williams to a yellow card for a no arms tackle just two minutes in.

Edinburgh's Ian Ritchie followed the Ospreys scrum-half to the sin bin as Ospreys pressed but captain Jac Morgan's effort was ruled out for a knock on.

They were eventually rewarded for their patience with Thomas wrestling his way over, as Ospreys edged into the lead.

Williams missed the conversion, but was on target with a penalty after good work by full-back Jack Walsh.

The final 20 minutes saw an exchange of penalties before Ospreys replacement hooker Parry crossed on the blindside to settle the win though neither side could muster a final score to clinch a bonus point.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: "We wanted to sign off and get some momentum into block two because block one has been tough.

"We under-performed to the levels we have shown previously and we can talk about the mitigation for that but ultimately it comes down to getting yourself into the window.

"We did that much better today, started much better and gave ourselves a chance. We built into it and then it got into an arm wrestle and at Bridgend, we’re pretty good in an arm wrestle."

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Will Greatbanks, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Tom Botha, Lewis Jones, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins.

Sin bin: Morgan-Williams (42)

Edinburgh: Harry Paterson; Wes Goosen, Matt Currie, Matt Scott, Duhan van der Merwe; Ross Thompson, Ben Vellacott (capt); Boan Venter, Ewan Ashman, D’arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Jamie Hodgson, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Ben Muncaster

Replacements: Dave Cherry, Angus Williams, Paul Hill, Glen Young, Luke Crosbie, Charlie Shiel, Ben Healy, Mosese Tuipulotu.

Sin bin: Ritchie (47)

Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones & Ben Breakspear (WRU)

TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)