Ospreys keep quarter-final hopes alive with 26-12 win over Munster at the Liberty
Sunday 8 March 2015 17:05, UK
Pro12 league leaders Munster were easily beaten 26-12 by a fired up Ospreys team led by the boot of Sam Davies.
The loss has pushed them into second place with Glasgow's win over Zebre, after the Irishmen started the round at the top of the table.
A try from loose forward Dan Baker, as well as 21 points from Sam Davies ensured that Ospreys kept their quarter-final hunt alive and well at the Liberty Stadium.
Munster scored two late tries of their own through Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls, but it was a case of too little, too late for the visiting Irish side who showed poor discipline throughout the game.
Ospreys had the early advantage as they played several phases to work their way into the Munster 22m area. Sam Davies, who played an integral part in the movement upfield, opted for a drop goal which he pushed wide, though the referee had been playing advantage so he put his team 3-0 up from the tee with five minutes on the clock.
Both sides tested the opposition defence in the middle period of the first half, but it was Ospreys who forced the visitors to concede more penalties, resulting in another opportunity for Davies to score from his boot which he dutifully took in the 23rd minute.
Soon thereafter the patience of the referee had been stretched too far by Munster who lost flanker Dave O'Callaghan to the bin after repeated team infringements.
It didn't take Ospreys long to capitalise on the extra man advantage as No 8 Dan Baker crashed over for the home side a minute later. Davies stepped up to take the conversion but directed it wide.
He was called up again shortly before the break after yet another Munster infringement and made no mistake as Ospreys stretched to a 14-0 lead. The woes of Munster were furthered when Davies slotted a drop goal on the stroke of half-time, giving the home side a huge lead going into the second half.
Davies added nine more points from the boot in the second half, despite the visitors coming out with renewed purpose, which kept Ospreys ahead for the remainder of the game.
Munster came back in the final minutes through a try from a driving maul as well and a dazzling run from British and Irish Lion Keith Earls, but by then the game had already been decided as the home side bagged four vital points in the closing stages of the Pro12.
