Leinster edge Ospreys to maintain unbeaten run

Ospreys flanker Harri Deaves was named player of the match

United Rugby Championship

Ospreys (7) 19

Tries: Deaves, Lewis, Jones Cons: Williams, Walsh

Leinster (15) 22

Tries: McGrath, Tector, Slimani Cons: Fawley, Byrne Pen: Frawley

Leinster edged a spirited Ospreys side to remain unbeaten in this seasons United Rugby Championship.

Visiting skipper Jack Walsh opened the scoring before Harri Deaves and Charlie Tector exchanged tries just before the break.

Ethan Lewis got Ospreys back to within a score before Rabah Slimani crossed for Leinster.

A late Cameron Jones effort set up a grandstand finish and while Ospreys could not complete the comeback, they did bag a deserved losing bonus-point.

It was a first Ospreys defeat under head coach Mark Jones since he took over in December.

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URC highlights: Ospreys 19-22 Leinster

Ospreys had made two starting changes from their last outing, including Sam Parry who was released from Wales Six Nations squad, but the hooker was a late withdrawal through illness.

The visitors, meanwhile, had to make nine changes having supplied 18 players to Irelands Six Nations squad.

Leinster threatened the Ospreys try line in their first attack of the game, but Morgan Morris came up with a crucial turnover under the posts.

The visitors were not to be denied on 13 minutes when some slick passing saw the ball shipped out to Jimmy OBrien on the wing, who then fed inside for Max Deegan who put Walsh in on the support line.

Ciaran Frawley missed the conversion, but redeemed himself with a penalty a few minutes later.

The game then ventured into a scrum fest, with moments of quality few and far between, while Ospreys were forced to change scrum-half with Kieran Hardy coming on for a drowsy looking Reuben Morgan-Williams.

Both sides, and the 3,500 Swansea crowd, were in desperate need of a spark on a cold February night and the game came roaring back to life five minutes before the break.

Justin Tipuric took clean lineout ball and Leinster could do little to stop the Ospreys pack driving Deaves over the line.

Leinster responded almost immediately, with Tector crashing through the defence after some patient build-up play from the forwards.

Crawleys conversion put an end to a frantic finish as Leinster headed down the tunnel with two score lead.

Ospreys were forced into another half-back reshuffle after the break with Owen Williams not returning after a head injury assessment.

They also lost Jack Walsh and Keelan Giles at some point, but they were passed fit to return.

The disruption did not deter from Ospreys confidence and when kickable points were on offer they rightly backed their driving lineout with Lewis crossing for a try.

Leinster then began to assert some dominance, but the bitter cold meant even they were victim to some handling errors.

They eventually crossed for their third try 15 minutes from time, with World Cup winning Springbok RG Synman showing his class by drawing in two defenders before offloading for Slimani to score.

But Ospreys were not done and they continued to back their lineout and put Leinster under pressure.

Some explosive forward carrying got them to within inches and it was the young prop Jones who took his opportunity with a pick and go.

With just three points separating the sides, Ospreys pushed for a winner, but Leinster saw the game out to make it 11 wins from 11.

They are top of the URC table, while Ospreys are ninth.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Garyn Phillips, Ethan Lewis, Tom Botha, James Ratti, James Fender, Harri Deaves, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Will Austin, Cam Jones, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Morgan Morse, Kieran Hardy, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins

Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy OBrien, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector, Jimmy OBrien; Ciarán Frawley, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangany, Brian Deeny, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, James Culhane.

Replacements: John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Rory McGuire, RG Snyman, Alex Soroka, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Andrew Osborne.

Referee: Filipo Russo (FIR)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse & Adam Jones (WRU)

TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)