Owen Williams the difference as Ospreys win at Cardiff
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A cool, calm and collected penalty from Owen Williams was the difference as the Ospreys picked up a monumental victory over Cardiff Rugby.
It was Cardiff Rugby who got off to a fast start in this one. A smart kick through from Tomos Williams took a mischievous bounce near the Ospreys try line and was recovered by Owen Lane for the score. Evans converted, 7-0 to Cardiff.
The Ospreys had some bright sparks of play in the early stages, but torrential rain was affecting the boys’ ball handling.
The next ten minutes were evenly fought, with Ospreys edging the battle for territory. The main talking point came as Keiran Williams powered his way through the middle of the Cardiff defence but was brought down inside the Cardiff 22.
TRY OSPREYS! That man again, Sam Parry. A try we’ve grown very familiar of the last few weeks: Ospreys lineout near the try-line, the pack persists in the maul and Parry goes over. Owen Williams converted from out wide, 7-7 here.
The Ospreys try seemed to invigorate Cardiff. It was their turn to score with the lineout maul this time, Lopeti Tumani coming away with the try. Evans missed the conversion, 12-7 to Cardiff as we approached the half hour mark.
HALFTIME: CARDIFF 12, OSPREYS 7
Ospreys went close early in the second half. A smart lineout thrown low to Alun Wyn resulted in a quick maul but was stopped by Cardiff and turned over.
TRY OSPREYS! The pack applied pressure in the resulting scrum, forcing Cardiff into a miskick that fell into the grateful hands of Owen Williams, who drove his way over for the try. Conversion missed, all level at 12-12.
The halftime oranges seemed to have done the job for the Ospreys and the first twelve minutes of the second half belonged to the boys in white.
TRY OSPREYS! Dewi Lake went over for a try on his return, after a lineout from the Cardiff 5. The Ospreys' maul is an unfathomable force. Just when you think they might have to use it, the pack persists and the drive starts again. Owen converts, 19-12 Ospreys.
The boys were fired up! Liam Williams caught a high ball for Cardiff and tried to find a gap but was absolutely mullered by Ethan Roots and the Ospreys won the penalty at the breakdown. A roar from Roots to the side-line.
Ospreys looked to be in control as we approached the last 15 minutes but a tackle from Ethan Roots was deemed to be dangerous by the referee and he was sent to the sin bin.
Cardiff didn’t take long to make the most of the advantage. A turnover at the scrum freed up a cross field kick for Jarrod Evans and was finished by Josh Adams. Evans converted, 19-19.
Yellow card for Cardiff. Myhill is sent to the bin as the full time whistle approaches.
PENALTY FOR THE OSPREYS! Owen Williams, with ice in his veins, slots through the penalty with 2 minutes to go. 22-19 Ospreys.
The drama wasn’t done there, though: Jarrod Evans had the opportunity to level it on the buzzer, but his effort was no good.
Ospreys come away with a huge victory at the Cardiff Arms Park.
FULL TIME: CARDIFF RUGBY 19, OSPREYS 22.