Ospreys record first famous win in Europe
MATCH REPORT: Ospreys recorded their first win in Europe in two years as they battled to a 21-10 win against Top 14 champions Montpellier in the Champions Cup.
Ospreys, whose last win in Europe came in December 2020, went into the break 14-3 up after first-half tries from Sam Parry and Keiran Williams.
After a draw and 11 straight defeats, the Welsh side finally ended their losing run with a performance full of commitment and character to notch a colossal victory on the road – their first in France since they beat Bourgoin in 2008.
Ospreys dominated long periods of the game and would have taken a try bonus-point as well had the TMO not found an angle after minutes of deliberation that showed Alex Cuthbert had put a toe on the line as he stretched full length to score what would have been a sensational effort in the 69th minute.
The game started at a frenetic pace, after which Louis Carbonel kicked the first points of the game in the fifth minute, but it was Ospreys who dominated the scoring for the rest of the first half.
Their superb defensive action further frustrated the home side and they led 14-3 at the break.
Ospreys had a penalty and from the next line-out five metres out Parry made no mistake with the drive.
Owen Williams added the extras and Ospreys were in control, even more so when they conjured up a second try. That came moments after Montpellier lock Florian Verhaeghe picked up a yellow card on a totting up basis.
That gave the visitors the chance to attack from another five-metre line-out and after Parry had charged up to the line, Rhys Webb fed his centre Keiran Williams to step his way over from a few metres out. Once again Owen Williams landed the conversion.
Ospreys lost Luke Morgan to a yellow card for a clumsy aerial challenge on Zach Mercer just before the break, but by the time he returned no damage had been done.
Alex Cuthbert thought he had Ospreys’ fourth try of the match minutes later, but the television match official deemed his foot was in touch moments before he grounded the ball.
But it did not matter, as Ospreys held on for a famous win in Europe.
Points scorers:
For Montpellier
Tries: Paenga-Amosa
Cons: Carbonel
Pens: Carbonel
For Ospreys
Tries: Parry, K Williams, Morris
Cons: O Williams 3
Montpellier: Anthony Bouthier (capt); Ben Lam, Thomas Darmon, Paolo Garbisi, George Bridge; Louis Carbonel, Cobus Reinach; Enzo Forletta, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Henry Thomas, Florian Verhaeghe, Bastien Chalureau, Clement Doumenc, Alexandre Becognee, Zach Mercer.
Replacements: Curtis Langdon, Grégory Fichten, George Tuinukuafe, Marco Tauleigne, Leo Coly, Julien Tisseron, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Paul Willemse.
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Alex Cuthbert, Mike Collins, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; Owen Williams, Rhys Webb; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, Ethan Roots, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Tom Francis, Huw Sutton, Jac Morgan, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Jack Walsh, Joe Hawkins.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Source: @ChallengeCup
