RaboDirect Pro 12: Dan Biggar kicks Ospreys to victory against leaders Leinster
Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar kicked 20 points in a shock 25-19 victory against leaders Leinster at the Liberty Stadium.
Last Updated: 11/04/14 10:07pm
The Irish province went into the game on the back of a Heineken Cup loss at Toulon last weekend and the Wales fly-half made it a week to forget for Matt O'Connor's side.
Leinster had got back to 19-19 going into the last 10 minutes, but Biggar put over a drop goal and his fifth penalty to give the Welshmen a famous victory.
Ospreys had needed a win to keep up their challenge for a place in the top four and a spot in the end-of-season play-offs.
Leinster, who rested Brian O'Driscoll, began the evening with a five-point cushion over Irish-rivals Munster in second place and had to settle for a losing bonus point.
Ospreys were without scrum-half Rhys Webb (knee surgery) and hooker Richard Hibbard (shoulder surgery) - both doubts for Wales' summer tour to South Africa.
Much stronger
Leinster looked the much stronger team early on as they took a 3-0 lead through outside-half Jimmy Gopperth on the 10-minute mark.
But a couple of cheap penalties allowed the home side into a 6-3 advantage with two Biggar penalties - one when scrum-half Isaac Boss was blown up for obstruction.
The business end of the first half produced two tries, one for each side.
Ospreys breezed into a 13-3 lead when wing Jeff Hassler was put over in the right corner, a score converted by Biggar.
But two minutes from the interval Leinster cut the deficit to only three points as they drove a line-out with prop Cian Healey emerging from a pile of bodies as the scorer; Gopperth converted.
Ospreys, with Dan Baker playing well at No. 8, were given some breathing space at the start of the second half when two Biggar penalties on 43 and 49 put them 19-10 in front.
But Leinster edged their way back on level terms Gopperth putting over three consecutive penalties.
It made for a grandstand finish but Ospreys were put in front again with a neat Biggar drop goal from the 22.
And he followed that up three minutes from time with a penalty that left Leinster more than a little frustrated.
The Welsh region are now level on points with Glasgow, who occupy the fourth and final play-off position, having played two games more.