Ospreys keep the pressure on

Ospreys have kept up the pressure on Leicester at the top of Pool Three after they scored a 36-16 Heineken Cup win over Treviso.

The result means that the Welsh region move to the top of the Pool with 15 points, Sean Holley's side scoring five tries to earn a bonus-point win.

It was very much a case of 'job done' for Ospreys, who started the match favourites having recorded a 68-8 victory at Liberty Stadium last weekend.

Tries from Sonny Parker, Alun Wyn-Jones and Jonathan Thomas helped the visitors build a 19-point advantage in the opening 25 minutes.

The gap came back down to six as the home side attempted to claw their way back into proceedings, Brendan Williams scoring an opportunistic try for Treviso.

But Ospreys put their foot down once more as the match progressed, with tries from Filo Tiatia and a second for Parker sealing an ultimately comfortable win.

The game's first moment of real incident came in the sixth minute when, having made a great pick-up of a loose ball on the touchline, James Hook was hauled down in cynical fashion by Hottie Louw.

The flanker was sin-binned for his misdemeanour and a penalty was awarded but, pressing for the try, the visitors could not take advantage.

Turnovers abounded in the opening minutes before Ospreys took advantage of one in the 14th minute to put their first points on the board.

Thomas broke through the centre before feeding Ian Gough, who worked the ball right to Andrew Bishop, inside centre feeding outside as Parker dummied his way over.

Hook's conversion attempt hit the right-hand upright but the score nevertheless appeared to settle the Ospreys and they had to wait just three minutes to double their advantage - Wyn-Jones crashing over from a line-out.

Hook this time found the target but Ospreys found themselves lucky to stay 12 points clear moments later when, having booted forward a misplaced pass from Rhodri Wells to Hook, Treviso full-back Williams just missed out on touching down.

After a protracted period of pressure, Thomas received an offload from Richard Hibbard to go over from close range and score Ospreys' third in the 25th minute, Hook kicking the extras.

Already 19 points in arrears, Treviso placed their first points on the board just prior to the half-hour when Andrea Marcato kicked a penalty, conceded following a high tackle by Parker.

The danger posed by Brendan Williams was fully realised in the 34th minute when, with Ospreys pressing forward once more, he intercepted an inside pass from Parker intended for Tommy Bowe and proceeded to sprint three-quarters of the length of the pitch unopposed.

Marcato kicked the extras, with the gap coming down to six points four minutes into the second half when the fly-half kicked a second penalty.

Hook redressed the balance when presented with a simple penalty opportunity in the 48th minute but the nip-and-tuck continued when Marcato kicked another moments later.

After Hibbard had muscled his way forward, Adam Jones was looking to score Ospreys' fourth try in the 54th minute when the ball sprang loose. Wells then claimed the last touch but the decision was referred to the third match official - and a knock-on was adjudged.

The decision was mere respite for Treviso, however, as the power of their opponents' rolling scrum from five metres out ended with Tiatia touching down and Hook converting.

Some good handling and movement from Ospreys almost resulted in a quick fifth for Bowe, but the winger instead placed a boot in touch whilst galloping down the right-hand flank towards the line.

Although the scoreline was now looking more comfortable for the visitors, Treviso still pressed forward and perhaps should have made their possession pay just past the hour after Benjamin De Jager broke forward.

A rolling maul moved the ball to around seven metres out, but although the home side worked the ball both left and right, Ospreys' defence regrouped and eventually gained the turnover.

Hook was replaced by Dan Biggar with six minutes to go and the teenager had a hand in Ospreys' fifth try, his looping pass being picked up by Lee Byrne on the half-volley before Parker appeared on the overlap.

Biggar then converted a difficult chance to push the Ospreys' advantage out to 20 points.

Leicester have the chance to retake the Pool Three initiative when they play Perpignan on Sunday.