Ospreys slump to costly loss
Ospreys fell to a 32-30 home defeat to Edinburgh to leave Munster just two points from the Magners League title.
Last Updated: 25/04/09 10:30pm
Ospreys fell to a 32-30 home defeat to Edinburgh to leave Munster just two points from the Magners League title.
The Ospreys included five of their six Lions - Shane Williams, Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe and Adam Jones - with only Alun Wyn Jones rested.
However, their presence failed to inspire the Welsh outfit who failed to capitalise on an encouraging start.
Indeed, the hosts were 10-0 to the good before the quarter-hour mark as Lions wing duo Williams and Bowe both touched down.
Williams eased away for the opening try on 10 minutes after being released by James Hook, while Bowe went over in the right corner following smart work by Byrne.
Edinburgh responded with an excellent try for centre Ben Cairns, made from a break by outside-half Phil Godman, and then stunned Ospreys with two tries in three minutes towards the end of the half to open a 19-10 lead.
First Cairns went in for his second try before Simon Webster was on the end of a cross kick to go over in the left corner.
However, the Ospreys recovered to cut the deficit at the interval to 19-17 with a try for Byrne, who was fed by Lions team-mate Bowe just moments before the whistle.
But it was Edinburgh who drew first blood in the second half as two Chris Paterson penalties extended their lead to eight points.
Again the Ospreys responded, allbeit against the run of play, with a converted try from hooker Huw Bennett earning them a bonus point, and two penalties from Biggar turning a 25-17 deficit into a 30-25 lead in the space of seven minutes.
But they could not hold on for victory as Jim Hamilton went over for Edinburgh's fourth and decisive try, Phil Godman landing a nerveless last-gasp conversion to win the match.
