Ospreys open European campaign with Lions victory

Wing Keelan Giles scored in his 101st appearance for Ospreys

European Challenge Cup

Ospreys (13) 30

Tries: Morgan, Giles, Hardy, Edwards Cons: O Williams 2 Pens: O Williams 2

Lions (7) 14

Tries: Marais, Cronje Cons: Francis, Nohamba

Ospreys started their Challenge Cup campaign with a bonus-point victory against Lions in a European fixture switched to Llanelli from Swansea because of Storm Darragh.

Tries from captain Jac Morgan, wing Keelan Giles, scrum-half Kieran Hardy and replacement Dan Edwards, plus 10 points from the boot of fly-half Owen Williams secured the win.

Lions had opened the scoring with a try from hooker Franco Marais, with centre Erich Cronje grabbing a late consolation.

It was a much-needed win for a Welsh professional side in Europe's second tier tournament after Cardiff, Scarlets and Dragons lost narrowly.

With Ospreys third bottom in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and having won only two of their seven league games so far, this was a welcome success in a tournament in which they reached the quarter-finals last season.

Toby Booth's Ospreys side travel to face French club Montpellier next Saturday.

Ospreys playing a home game against a South African side in a European competition might seem a strange concept to many.

The fact the home match was being played in Llanelli added to the oddity of the event.

The game had been switched from the Swansea.com Stadium to Parc y Scarlets due to structural damage at the original venue caused by Storm Darragh.

Parc y Scarlets was selected as the most suitable option, although Swansea's St Helen's and the Brewery Field in Bridgend were considered as alternative venues.

One of the four Llanelli stands was used to house the hardy supporters who turned up.

It was a familiar ground for former Scarlets flanker Morgan who produced a player-of-the-match performance.

Morgan returned to captain Ospreys as one of five personnel forward changes from the shock URC defeat at Zebre.

Lions made 13 alterations from the side who lost to Munster with 12 players returning to Johannesburg before this fixture.

It was visiting hooker Marais who was driven over for the opening score as Lions enjoyed early pressure.

Fly-half Sam Francis added a conversion but missed two penalty attempts as Williams slotted over three points for the home side.

Lions flanker JC Pretorius was shown a yellow card for a professional foul before Ospreys took advantage with a try for captain Morgan, with Williams converting and adding a penalty as the hosts led 13-7 at half-time.

Ospreys brought on fly-half Dan Edwards for the injured Keiran Williams with Owen Williams switching to inside centre. Giles was the beneficiary of a well-worked move which he expertly finished.

Wales scrum-half Hardy, who was also on familiar territory after moving to Ospreys from Scarlets, produced a fine individual effort after a well-timed intercept and 60-metre sprint to score a first try for his new side.

Ospreys' opportunism appeared to have continued when Morgan poached the ball out of a Lions ruck and crossed but, after a lengthy deliberation with the television match official, referee Kevin Bralley ruled out the score.

Cronje crossed for Lions before a fine effort from Edwards secured the fourth try and bonus-point win for Ospreys.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth: "We are really pleased. We love the competition and are excited by it.

"Campaigns are not always straightforward and we have had our challenges.

"The most impressive thing was despite what had happened previously, we looked like ourselves today and that is the biggest compliment I can give us."

Ospreys: Walsh; Kasende, Watkin, K Williams, Giles; O Williams, Hardy; G Thomas, Lake, Warren, Greatbanks, Fender, T Davies, Deaves, J Morgan (capt).

Replacements: Parry, S Thomas, Botha, L Jones, M Morris, L Davies, Edwards, Hopkins.

Lions: Mafura; Kriel, Cronje, Jonker, Maxwane; S Francis, Steyn (capt); Naude, Marais, van Vuuren, Oosthuizen, Landsberg, JC Pretorius, Esterhuizen, Steenkamp.

Replacements: Visagie, Kotze, Schoeman, Delport, R du Plessis, Straeuli, Nohamba, Louw.

Sin-bin: Pretorius 28

Referee: Kevin Bralley (FFR).

Assistant referees: Vivien Praderie & Flavien Hourquet (FFR).

TMO: Cedric Marchat (FFR).