Brave Ospreys fall to Edinburgh URC defeat

A severely under-strength Ospreys side took Edinburgh all the way in their 19-17 United Rugby Championship defeat at the Hive last night.

Richard Bond
3 Min Read
A late try earned the Ospreys a crucial bonus point in the 19-17 defeat to Edinburgh.

United Rugby Championship

Edinburgh (5) 19

Tries: T Currie, Morris, Paterson  Con: Thompson, C Scott

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Ospreys (5) 17

Tries: L Davies, Cokanasiga, Boshoff  Con: Walsh

Without 22 first team players, the Ospreys earned a credible losing bonus point, which could have been so more in the Scottish capital.

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The Welsh region took a 5-0 lead in the 25th minute thanks to a try from scrum-half Luke Davies, who started and finished the move.

But they were pegged level seven minutes later when flanker Tom Currie found a gap following a succession of penalties to score his first in Edinburgh colours as the scores were level at the break.

Ospreys re-established their five-point lead four minutes into the second period with centre Phil Cokanasiga throwing a dummy to wriggle through the Scots defence to dot down.

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Just nine minutes later, Edinburgh responded strongly. From a 5-metre lineout drive, hooker Harri Morris peeled away from the maul to crash over for his first-ever try for the club. Ross Thompson slotted the conversion this time, putting the home side ahead for the first time.

The crucial third try came at the 70-minute mark. After winning a scrum penalty, the ball was moved wide from the lineout on the 22, finding centre Findlay Thompson, whose clever kick would put through full back Harry Paterson to race over the try line.

Ospreys set up a grandstand finish with six minutes to play after they played it through the hands and Evardi Boshoff bundled his way over the try line for a converted score, but time would run out with Edinburgh holding on to be victors.

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Edinburgh now sit ninth in the table, with Ospreys 13th.

Ospreys Starting XV:  

Luke Davies, Jack Walsh (co-captain), Iestyn Hopkins, Phil Cokanasiga,  Evardi Boshoff, Dan Kasende, Max Nagy, Cameron Jones, Sam Parry (co-captain), Tom Botha, Ryan Smith, Huw Sutton, Lewis Lloyd, Gwilym Evans, Ross Moriarty. 

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Steffan Thomas, Kian Hire, Lewis Jones, Will Greatbanks, Scott Whitlock, Luke Morgan, Harri Houston. 

[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]

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Swansea-based sports journalist. Twitter: @RichBond00 Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com
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