Ospreys through despite defeat

Holders Ospreys are through to the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals after a tense 23-19 loss to London Irish at the Madejski Stadium.

The Anglo-Welsh cup holders were 17-6 down at half-time but rallied strongly in the second period to secure a bonus point.

They had fly-half James Hook's 14-point goalkicking tally and wing Nikki Walker's 54th-minute touchdown to thank for getting back into bonus point contention.

They then held on during the closing seconds but the home side - who had dominated territory and possession for large parts of a stirring encounter - could not land a telling blow.

While full-back Lee Byrne and lock Ian Evans were both rested, the Ospreys starting line-up included six members of Wales' autumn Test squad, with five more among the replacements.

But the home side - who still had a semi-final chance - paraded 11 internationals, showing they had intention of playing second fiddle to the holders.

Ospreys raced into a 6-0 lead inside 20 minutes courtesy of Hook's boot but Irish repeatedly pummelled the visitors' defence before finally breaking through nine minutes before half-time.

First try

Aggressive approach work by the home pack, with flanker Steffon Armitage and skipper Bob Casey in the driving seat, eventually took its toll.

Centre Sailala Mapusua received a Shane Geraghty pass and crashed over near the posts for a try which full-back Peter Hewat converted - the first of 13 points he kicked during the afternoon.

The Ospreys afternoon went from bad to worse just three minutes later when Gavin Henson threw a reckless pass to midfield partner Tommy Bowe on halfway and Irish paid him pay.

Possession came back on the Irish side, and wing Sailosi Tagicakibau did not require a second invitation to skip around opposite number Walker before setting off on an unopposed 50-metre sprint.

Hewat added the extras, following an earlier penalty, taking the home side to a 17-6 lead as Ospreys full-back Jonny Vaughton departed injured on the stroke of half-time and was replaced by Andrew Bishop.

Hewat and Hook exchanged penalties early in the second period, and although the Ospreys had no reason to panic, there was sufficient alarm for coach Sean Holley to make a notable double 52nd-minute substitution.

Forwards Ryan Jones and Alun-Wyn Jones, who will both start for Wales against world champions South Africa next Saturday, entered the fray, and there was an immediate urgency about Ospreys' play.

Ospreys' try

Barely 100 seconds after the reinforcements arrived, Ospreys struck, as Bishop's weaving run caused panic in the Irish defence and Walker finished off a crisp move.

Hook converted, cutting Ospreys' deficit to just four points, but there was also an injury scare for the visitors - and Wales coach Warren Gatland - as hooker Huw Bennett limped off.

The Ospreys had clawed their way back impressively, yet another Hewat penalty - his third - made it 23-16 entering the closing quarter, as Irish player-coach Mike Catt replaced Geraghty.

If the visitors were not going to win, they knew it was a case of remaining within losing bonus point range.

And Hook certainly played his part, booting a magnificent 52-metre penalty that meant Irish's lead was back to four points with little more than 10 minutes left.

The finale proved an inevitably tense business, with errors creeping in on both sides, but Ospreys held on to book a semi-final place against Gloucester at Coventry's Ricoh Arena next March.