Ospreys soar over Tigers

The Ospreys ran in eight tries on their way to a 46-13 victory over Leicester to kick-start their LV= Cup campaign.

Both sides lost their opening group stage matches last week but it was the Magners League champions who responded the better, romping to victory over the English champions in emphatic style.

Even with 11 players absent on international duty, the Ospreys turned on a vibrant performance in atrocious conditions to the delight of a big crowd in Bridgend.

The Tigers' 17-year-old stand-off George Ford edged the visitors in front with an early penalty, but it was his opposite number, 18-year-old Matthew Morgan who helped inspire an incredible try-scoring burst moments later.

On nine minutes Kristian Phillips raced to the outside and chipped through to touch down the first of five tries in 15 minutes for the Welsh side.

Sonny Parker's well-angled burst helped set up Morgan for a score, then from the kick-off the fly-half's break set up a 70-metre try completed by Richard Fussell.

Morgan's short pass then picked out Ashley Beck on a superb running line and the centre cruised over for a bonus point try after just 23 minutes.

And a minute later another Morgan break created another long-range try, this time rounded off by Rhys Webb.

Reeling

Leicester were reeling but did hit back before the break after stealing a lineout deep in Ospreys territory, Ben Pienaar crashing over between the posts from close range.

The second half was unsurprisingly a more subdued affair as Leicester stiffened their defensive resistance and the Ospreys toned down their ambition.

Ford kicked a penalty for the Tigers but another brilliant run from Morgan and perfectly weighted kick into the corner gave Phillips his second try.

Seven minutes from time it was Beck who slipped through a kick for Sonny Parker to slide in and ground and with time almost expired the Ospreys pack got in on the act, forcing a penalty try as an under-pressure Leicester scrum collapsed on their own line.