Brave Lions share spoils with Ospreys in Bridgend
MATCH REPORT: Angelo Davids almost snatched a victory at the death as the Lions played out a tense 24-all draw with Ospreys in a wet and windy Bridgend on Friday.
With play in overtime after a frantic last few minutes in the United Rugby Championship Round 10 clash, the wing failed to gather the ball in the Ospreys’ in-goal area after a grubber kick by Chris Smith.
Instead, the visitors will head back to South Africa with three points in the bag after they scored four tries.
They also fought back from being 5-19 down just before the break.
The Lions were camped inside the Ospreys’ half in the opening minutes, and they were rewarded for their pressure after captain Francke Horn went over in the corner for a try in the ninth minute after some great hands by his teammates on the inside.
Ospreys found their mojo as the half went on, and they eventually got their first points when James Ratti powered over the Lions’ tryline from close range. Dan Edwards made it 7-5 with his conversion.
However, the hosts were reduced to 14 men in the 27th minute after captain Dewi Lake was yellow-carded for a high shot on Asenathi Ntlabakanye.
Despite being a man down, Ospreys showed patience with ball in hand, and they scored their second try in the 34th minute when a long pass found Iestyn Hopkins, who dived over for the score.
The pressure took its toll on the Lions – they were reduced to 14 in the 38th minute after SJ Kotze saw yellow for slowing the ball down in a ruck.
Moments later, Ospreys increased their lead after Morgan Morris found his way to the tryline with the help of a strong driving maul.
However, the Lions had the final say of the first half when captain Horn powered over for his second try after multiple phases inside the Ospreys’ 22.
Chris Smith added the extra two points, and at half-time it was 19-12 to the home side.
It was the Lions’ turn to play with a strong wind behind their backs in the second half, and things went their way.
Just as they did in the first half, they opened the scoring in the second 40, and it was PJ Botha who sniped over the tryline from a maul. Smith missed the conversion.
More pressure was heaped on hosts when Rhys Davies was yellow-carded for reckless head contact on Renzo du Plessis at a ruck in the 53rd minute. It remained yellow after the bunker review system.
The Lions eventually went ahead in the 59th minute after Quan Horn collected the ball from a Richard Kriel chip kick before sprinting in for a fourth score. Smith made it a five-point lead with his conversion.
However, Ospreys showed their fighting spirit, and they bounced back in the 63rd minute with a try by former Cheetahs wing Daniel Kasende. In difficult conditions, Andrews could not put his team in front with the conversion attempt.
The home side received another boost in the 66th minute when Lions replacement Etienne Oosthuizen was sent to the sin-bin for playing the ball on the ground.
Edwards had the opportunity to put his side in front in the 79th minute, but his penalty attempt drifted wide of the right upright. He also had a drop goal attempt that didn’t threaten the Lions.
With play going on well past the full-time hooter, the Lions had one final opportunity to snatch victory, but Davids missed a great chance to dot the ball down in the in-goal area.
The scorers:
For Ospreys:
Tries: Ratti, Hopkins, Morse, Kasende
Cons: Edwards 2
For Lions:
Tries: F Horn 2, Botha, Horn
Cons: Smith 2
Yellow cards: Dewi Lake (Ospreys, 27′ – foul play, high tackle); SJ Kotze (Lions, 38′ – slowing the ball down); Rhys Davies (Ospreys, 53′ – foul, dangerous clear-out); Etienne Oosthuizen (Lions, 66′ cynical play, playing the ball on the ground)
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Dan Kasende, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Harri Deaves, 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Steffan Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Cam Jones, 18 Kian Hire, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Morgan Morse, 22 Reuben Morgan Williams, 23 Phil Cokanasiga.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Jarod Cairns, 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Erich Cronje
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Lucas Yendle (Wales)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
