Ospreys' title charge back on track

 

Six penalties and a drop-goal from the Ospreys flyhalf as well as a fine try from No.8 Dan Baker meant the Welsh side were never really troubled despite late tries for Munster from John Ryan and Keith Earls.

 

Earls' try was converted by Ian Keatley as Munster made a late push for a bonus point that would have been undeserved on the balance of play.

 

The win moves the Ospreys – who were top of the pile before winning just one of their five league games since the turn of the year – up to fourth in the Pro12 table and robs Munster of the chance going back to the summit.

 

Ospreys began as the more positive side and will be frustrated that a 22 phase move in the first five minutes only resulted in a Davies penalty to put them in front.

 

Both sides were struggling to make serious inroads into opposition territory and it wasn't until the 22nd minute when Davies struck another penalty to extend the Ospreys lead.

 

Munster's indiscipline was a feature throughout the first half, eventually resulting in Dave O'Callaghan being yellow carded for a high tackle just after the half hour mark.

 

This seemed to spur Ospreys on as they were able to take advantage of the extra man to score 11 points before half time.

 

First Baker was freed by an excellent long, lofted pass from flyhalf Davies to score the first try of the match and make the score 11-0.

 

Davies missed the conversion wide out on the right but was still able to add a penalty and a drop-goal before the break to make the score 17-0 and take his personal points tally over 100 for the season.

 

The 17 point lead was no more than Ospreys deserved as they dominated a half which Munster were never really able to get into, due to the amount of penalties they conceded.

 

Munster were unbeaten in their last four going into this game and began to get visibly frustrated as they were unable to impart any sustained pressure on the Ospreys defence.

 

It took until past the hour mark before a point was scored in the second half when Davies made it four kicks from five with another penalty.

 

Replacement Ryan finally got Munster on the board with eight minutes remaining, applying the finish as his side forced the ball over the line in a driving maul following the line-out. However, Keatley sliced the conversion attempt well wide. 

 

Two more Davies penalties either side of a late converted Earls try stunted any hope the Irish side had of securing a losing bonus point and comfortably secured a deserved Ospreys victory.

 

 

Try: Baker

Pens: Davies 6

DG: Davies 

 

Tries: Ryan, Earls

Con: Keatley

 

Teams:

 

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric (captain), 6 James King, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Lloyd Peers, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Ryan Bevington.

Replacements: 16 Matthew Dwyer, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Morgan Allen, 22 Martin Roberts, 23 Ben John.

 

Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Felix Jones, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Denis Hurley (captain), 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.

Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 John Ryan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Jack O'Donoghue, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Andrew Smith, 23 Andrew Conway.

 

Referee: Marius Mitrea

Assistant referees: Sean Brickell, Simon Rees

TMO: Simon McDowell