Wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb claimed a hat-trick to help Cardiff withstand a late Ospreys comeback to keep their URC play-off hopes alive, all but ending Ospreys hopes of repeating the top-eight finish of last season.
Hamer-Webb’s hat-trick was supplemented by two tries from flanker Alex Mann and a penalty try for the bonus-point win.
Ospreys centre Keiran Williams had scored an early try to open proceedings but that was as good as it got in the first half.
Jones’ side would be more on point after the break as scores from replacements Will Spencer and Kieran Hardy made it a grandstand finale, but it would be too little too late for the Ospreys.
“It’s very difficult when you are making basic errors yourself, it becomes tough,” said Jones post-match.
“But I thought the way the boys actioned that at half-time and put on the performance they did for 37 minutes I have to give them credit.
“It could have gone one of two ways with the character the boys showed. The execution on the ball improved and we looked better.
“Fair play to them though, they were very accurate. Cardiff had four entries and scored four tries.
“Defensively, we are pretty disappointed with some of that. It was well within our capabilities to stop that, and we have on numerous occasions before.
“Once we became accurate, it gave us energy to keep repeating.
“I was pleased with what I saw in the second-half, but I was equally unhappy with what I saw in the execution in the first.
“Up until the last two weeks, we have been very accurate, and when we have had opportunities we have taken them.
“You have got to remember that there will be moments in the season that won’t go your way, and you won’t be as good as you have been. The opposition will be good and it’s how you deal with it.
“It is what it is today, and we have to move on quickly.”
The Ospreys, who fall to 13th in the URC table, next face rock-bottom Dragons at the Swansea.com Stadium next weekend, before a mini tour in South Africa sees the season finish with games against high-flying Sharks and the Emirates Lions in May.
“The challenge for us in the next three games is now that we get out of the blocks well and don’t give ourselves too much to climb in the second 40.
“We’re definitely looking with positive eyes, and no reason why we can’t get three wins. We have been to South Africa before and won so the expectation is we need to do it again.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
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