Guinness PRO12: Zebre 22-39 Ospreys
Last Updated: 07/12/15 4:43pm
Ospreys secured a bonus point in their 39-22 win over Italian side Zebre in the Guinness PRO12.
Justin Tipuric scored two tries for the Ospreys while Sam Davies added 14 points from the kicking tee. Jeffrey Hassler and Eli Walker both added first-half efforts of their own, and Jonathan Spratt rounded things off for the visitors in the 60th minute.
Zebre fought hard, with Kayle Van Zyl scoring two of three tries, but did not have enough to repel the onslaught of the Welshmen.
Ospreys dominated the opening minutes, but were caught out on the attack when Dries van Schalkwyk intercepted a pass to send winger Kayle van Zyl in for the first try of the match, which was converted by Marcello Violi.
The visitors kept their composure, and after sustained pressure in attack, levelled the score with a Jeff Hassler try from close range after good interplay out wide and a conversion from Davies.
Davies gave his side the lead for the first time from the tee before Eli Walker was on the end of a long-range pass to dot down in the corner six minutes before half-time.
Zebre would have liked no further score from their visitors ahead of the end of the half, but van Zyl failed to collect a bouncing ball near his side's line, and Tipuric kicked ahead and fell on the ball for a 15-point lead.
But Zebre hit straight back, setting up a maul deep in the opposition half before scrum-half Violi broke blind to run in untouched for a 22-12 scoreline at the break.
Carlo Canna and Davies traded penalties at the beginning of the second half, but it was only in the 56th minute that Ospreys earned the bonus point for the fourth try. Tipuric spotted a gap and raced through to cross for his second of the afternoon, and following the conversion from Davies, Ospreys were 32-15 ahead.
Tipuric turned provider four minutes later, breaking through the midfield before passing to Joshua Matavesi who unleashed Spratt for the side's fifth try.
Van Zyl made amends for his earlier blunder by adding his second try of the match with ten minutes remaining, but there was no way back for the Italians as Ospreys ran out 39-22 winners in their fourth win of the campaign.
