Ospreys keep Zebre winless
MATCH REPORT: Ospreys picked up a fourth successive home victory in the United Rugby Championship, but were made to work for their 27-22 win by a spirited Zebre outfit.
The Italians arrived in Swansea without six players on international duty and had not won a game in any competition for more than a year, but they collected their second point of the campaign after running their hosts close.
Sam Parry, Morgan Morris and Will Griffiths scored tries for the Ospreys, while Stephen Myler converted all three and added two penalties, but Toby Booth’s men missed out on a bonus point.
Zebre’s points came courtesy of five Antonio Rizzi penalties and a converted try from Liam Mitchell.
Myler gave the home side – who welcomed Dan Lydiate back to the starting XV for the first time in more than a year – an early lead with a simple penalty, before Rizzi struck a post with Zebre’s first chance for points.
Rizzi made no mistake with his next opportunity from 30 metres to leave the scores level at 3-3 at the end of the first quarter.
The Italians produced the first threatening attack when, following a neat round of passing, Fijian wing Asaeli Tuivuaka made ground down the right flank before the Ospreys were penalised, with Rizzi kicking a straightforward penalty.
It took 32 minutes for the first try to occur. Following a penalty award, the Ospreys opted for a driving line-out and were rewarded with a touchdown from Parry.
Three minutes later, the Welsh region had another when a strong run from Keiran Williams put the defence on the back foot and Rhys Webb’s pass sent Morris over. Myler converted both for the Ospreys to lead 17-6 at the interval.
Ten minutes after the restart, Rizzi kicked a third penalty before Zebre scored their only try. Tuivuaka should have applied the finish himself but lacked the pace to avoid a cover tackle from Michael Collins. However, the visitors recycled for Mitchell to score.
Rizzi converted and added a penalty to give his side a 19-17 advantage at the end of the third quarter. At that stage the Ospreys changed four players, with former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin appearing for the first time since returning to the region from Worcester Warriors.
Myler put the hosts back in front with a simple penalty before Zebre full-back Jacopo Trulla was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on.
The Ospreys soon capitalised with a try from Griffiths, but a fifth penalty from Rizzi gave his side a deserved bonus point.
Player of the match
The Ospreys had to rely on their dominant pack to quell a determined challenge from the Italians.
All their tries came from forwards, with Lydiate returning to the starting line-up from a long-term injury to play a key part in a formidable back row.
Play of the match
Not so much a moment that caught they eye but one that undoubtedly had a big impact on the closing stages.
After 66 minutes, Zebre were just a point down at 20-19, but a pass from Ospreys centre Collins was knocked down by Trulla.
A penalty try was ruled out, but the yellow card shown to the Zebre full-back proved costly as Will Griffiths crossed to seal victory.
The scorers
For Ospreys
Tries: Parry, Morris, Griffiths
Cons: Myler 3
Pens: Myler 2
For Zebre
Try: Mitchell
Con: Rizzi
Pens: Rizzi 5
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Keelan Giles, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Rhys Webb (captain), 8 Ethan Roots, 7 Morgan Morris, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 23 Mat Protheroe.
Zebre: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Giovanni D’Onofrio, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Asaeli Tuivuaka, 10 Antonio Rizzi, 9 Nicolò Casilio, 8 Renato Giammarioli (captain), 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Luca Andreani, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Liam Mitchell, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Massimo Ceciliani, 1 Paolo Buonfiglio.
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Cristian Stoian, 20 Taina Fox-Matamua, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Timothy O’Malley, 23 Junior Laloifi.
Referee: Andy Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (WRU) & Wayne Davies (WRU)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)
Source: @URCOfficial
