Ospreys overcame the 38th-minute dismissal of lock James Fender to earn an entertaining draw against Cardiff before a sell-out crowd in the Welsh capital.
Despite the straight red minutes before the break for dangerous play, the visitors would largely be the stronger of the two sides with Cardiff having to survive sustained late pressure in order to pick up two points to cement their position in the league’s top three.
Fly-half Dan Edwards scored all Ospreys’ points with a superb individual try, two penalties and a conversion while Wales flanker James Botham and replacement hooker Dafydd Hughes both went over for Cardiff, with Ben Thomas adding a penalty.
Cardiff had the best of the early minutes of the match, and after several phases of play in the Osprey’s twenty-two opened the scoring. Botham appeared from a mass of bodies to celebrate the opening score of the game through the Blues rolling maul.
In challenging conditions, both sides showed ill-discipline with Fender seeing red and for the home side, Teddy Williams and Rhys Litterick both spent time in the sin bin at crucial periods, whilst kicks would be missed at both ends as the game would be disjointed at times.
That would play into the hands of the visitors who would manage the conditions on the day better but would fail to execute their chances. Edwards’ individual try straight after the break would be all they would have to show on the scoreboard from an improved attacking effort with several opportunities spurned.
Cardiff replied with Hughes driving over minutes later and will also look back and wonder how they did not claim their first victory at home against their rivals since 2007, having led 5-3 at half-time against 14 men.
The Ospreys threatened a winning score in the latter stages as kicks would be exchanged but failed to repeat their Christmas heroics against the Scarlets leaving Jones with mixed emotions at the conclusion of the contest.
“I’m very happy and proud with the fight and the quality the players showed after the red card, but we’re all frustrated with the result,” said Jones post-match.
“We had to reorganise after the red, but we felt keeping a full pack was the way we could win the game.
“I thought the backs did incredibly well to cover the man down the space, especially when we know Cardiff are a team that likes to move the ball from side to side.
It was a calculated risk, but I think the players executed it really well.
“We didn’t take our opportunities in the game, especially right at the end. We have nailed those moments in the past, but we didn’t today.
“Last week we nailed, it and this week we didn’t – so we have to move on. It is two points away from home and keeps us ticking along, but as a group we are frustrated.
“We’d love to be sat here with two wins [from the Christmas period] but look we are just going to keep on chipping away and work hard.
“We have a different competition to focus on now which is exciting, and we will have a look at that independently and at selection.
“We know we have a good team here that has done well in my two games in charge, but we know there is more there to come, and that is what we are after.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
