Ospreys sneak past resilient Zebre

Ospreys made it five wins from five games so far in the Pro12, as they picked up a less than comfortable victory over second-bottom Zebre at the Stadio XXV Aprile.

Ospreys were out for revenge with their last Pro12 defeat coming at the hands of Zebre in Parma on May 1, but made the worst possible start as an early Giulio Bisegni try helped the hosts to an 8-6 half-time lead.

But while Sam Davies missed four penalties after replacing the injured Dan Biggar his five successful kicks were enough to get the visitors over the line and escape Italy with their winning record intact.

Gonzalo Garcia kicked marvelously and saw a kick from his own half cannon back off the crossbar which could have made all the difference.

Ospreys started the stronger side and put the Zebre back three under immediate pressure kicking high up-and-unders from the hands.

But it was Zebre who opened the scoring after five minutes, Giulio Toniolatti feeding Bisegni on the left who charged over for the first try of the evening, although Luciano Orquera failed to add the extras from a fairly routine conversion attempt.

Ospreys evening went from bad to worse when Biggar was forced off the field straight after, Davies replacing him.

The Welsh side persisted with the game plan and barraged David Odiete with high up-and-unders, before Davies answered on 13 minutes with a sweetly struck penalty from the 22.

Orquera must have left his kicking boots at home as Zebre missed the chance to extend their lead two minutes later, the fly-half pushing a 40-metre attempt right of the target.

Garcia then took over kicking duties and was successful with his first effort after Morgan Allen was penalised for not releasing, making it 8-3 to the hosts after 23 minutes.

Davies then missed the chance to move Ospreys within two from 40 metres, after Andrea Manici was penalised for not releasing on 34 minutes.

The flyhalf then made his next kick count from the left touchline, before missing another from virtually the same spot as the clock ticked into the red to leave it at 8-6 to the hosts at the interval.

Ospreys needed a massive second half, but again started poorly and conceded a penalty in the middle of the park, allowing Garcia to add to his tally from 40 metres.

Davies again kept Ospreys in touch with his third successful kick of the match on 52 minutes, the introduction of Alun Wyn-Jones making a difference for the visitors.

But a moment of madness from Toniolatti saw him sent to the sin-bin after 57 minutes as he needlessly came over the top with his side not under much pressure.

Ospreys again elected to kick for goal, but Davies again pulled his kick wide.

Zebre remained aggressive in defence and were rewarded turning the ball over and winning a penalty just inside their own half, which Garcia stuck beautifully but saw cannon back off the crossbar.

That looked to be a turning point as Ospreys finally made their pressure count with Davies converting a penalty from the centre of the park for his 100th Ospreys point to give them the lead for the first time in the game.

But Garcia was on form to strike another penalty through the posts from the left on 69 minutes to restore the hosts lead, before Davies curled the ball through the posts again from the touchline two minutes later to make it 15-14.

Ospreys expertly retained possession in the closing stages and prevented Zebre from getting hands on the ball for the final five minutes to close out a hard fought win.

*  In other Friday action Ulster got back to winning ways, after a resounding Pro12 victory over struggling Edinburgh at the Kingspan Stadium.

*  Sam Hobbs's late try salvaged a 24-24 draw for Cardiff Blues after Connacht's early second-half onslaught in an enthralling Pro12 encounter at the Sportsground.

Friday's scores and scorers!

Zebre 14-15 Ospreys

The scorers:

For Zebre:

Try: Bisegni

Pens: Garcia 3

For Ospreys:

Pens: Davies 5

Yellow card: Giulio Toniolatti (Zebre, 56)

The teams:

Zebre: 15 Hendrik Daniller, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 George Biagi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Luciano Leibson, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Valerio Bernabò, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Kelly Haimona, 23 Mirco Bergamasco.

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Jonathan Spratt (captain), 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Morgan Allen, 7 James King, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Lloyd Peers, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith.

Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Andrew Bishop.

Referee: Lloyd Linton (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Elia Rizzo (Italy), Carlo Damasco (Italy)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

Ulster 30-0 Edinburgh

The scorers:

For Ulster:

Tries: Trimble 2, Williams, Best

Cons: Jackson, Olding

Pens: Jackson 2

For Edinburgh:

None

Yellow card: Mike Coman Edinburgh, 59)

The teams:

Ulster: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Stuart McCIoskey, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Alan O'Connor, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Ruaidhri Murphy.

Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Stuart Olding, 23 Darren Cave

Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Jack Cuthbert, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Cornell Du Preez, 7 Roddy Grant, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 John Andress, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Rory Sutherland.

Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Willem Nell, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Nick McLennan.

Referee: Claudio Blessano (Italy)

Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)

Connacht 24-24 Cardiff Blues

The scorers:

For Connacht:

Tries: Henshaw, Marmion, White

Cons: Ronaldson 3

Pen: Ronaldson

For Cardiff Blues:

Tries: White, Cook, Andrews

Cons: Patchell 3

Pen: Patchell

Teams:

Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Nathan White, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Ronan Loughney.

Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Fionn Carr, 23 Shane Layden.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Adam Thomas, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Dan Fish, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Macauley Cook, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Geraint Walsh.

Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Andy Brace, John Carvill (both Ireland)

TMO: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)