Bath send Ospreys crashing

Bath set up a clash with Gloucester to decide who will progress from Group A.

Ospreys 20-27 Bath

Powergen Cup, Netherdale Stadium, Sunday October 9

Bath booked a winner-takes-all Powergen Cup showdown against Gloucester thanks to tries from Frikkie Welsh and former Osprey Andy Williams and 14 points from the boot of Olly Barkley.

Matt Jones contributed 15 points for the Welsh region, including a try, but a second successive defeat in the tournament for the Welsh region mean they cannot progress to the knockout stages.

Adding to their woe, their Lions number eight Ryan Jones suffered an injury during his first game back since the tour and failed to appear for the second half.

Bath were good value for their success. They were dangerous with ball in hand and solid in everything they did up front, with England forward Danny Grewcock standing out.

The Guinness Premiership outfit turned round with a 13-7 lead after an evenly contested first half which saw them just shade the forward battle.

Olly Barkley put them in front with a third-minute penalty, only for the Ospreys to strike back quickly. As Richard Mustoe jumped for a cross kick from Matthew Jones, he was taken out early by Tom Cheeseman and referee Nigel Owens awarded a penalty try.

But Bath countered in style, Grewcock charging away down the left wing and sending Welsh over in the corner.

The Ospreys had their moments and enjoyed long periods on the attack, but they made too many mistakes at crucial moments.

However they surged into the lead early in the second period after a flurry of points from Jones, who slotted a penalty, side-stepped over for a try and added the conversion.

But Bath retaliated with a penalty from Barkley, a dropped goal from Chris Malone and Williams's touchdown in the left corner.

Shaun Connor added a penalty for the home side, but Barkley had the last word with a successful kick from 30 metres.