The Ospreys Development team faced tough opposition in round four of the Celtic Cup, when they travelled to Dublin to face Leinster A on Friday evening.
- A Reuben Morgan Williams try and Josh Thomas conversion were the points on the board for the young Ospreys
- A yellow card for Mitchell Walsh allowed Leinster to take full advantage of their visitors, with their relentless attack proving too strong for the development team
After a late change to the team, with captain Ifan Phillips withdrawing to travel with the firsts to Parma, top of table two holders ran out to face top of table one leaders Leinster A.
Dewi Lake stepped into the starting line-up with last week’s bonus point try scorer Garin Lloyd coming onto the bench.
Leinster A got off to a fine start, with the penalty account going against the Ospreys to take play deep into the Ospreys half. A break out wide from Scott Penny allowed the hosts the first try of the game with Ciaran Frawley slotting the extras. A penalty for the hosts minutes later extended their lead to 10-0.
But the Ospreys did well to answer back with a try of their own. Building an attack in Leinster’s half saw them with the scrum in a strong position. A quick break from Reuben Morgan Williams allowed the scrum-half to race through to score the try. His half back partner Josh Thomas with the extras narrowed the scores at 10-7.
The hosts quickly took back control of the game, finding space out wide to gain good ground out of their half. A powerful take from the forwards and an offload to Penny made way for Leinster’s second try of the game, with Frawley adding the conversion to go 17-7 ahead.
As Leinster looked to go again, the penalties notched up against the Ospreys and eventually took their toll with Mitchell Walsh receiving a yellow card for the offence.
Leinster made sure to take advantage of the extra man, as they conjured up an attack in the Ospreys 22. But the young Ospreys did well to hold them back. Struggling to break through the Osprey defence, Leinster’s phases kept stacking up, but an eventual break from Bryan Byrne from a ruck allowed the hooker to ground the try. Keen to score their bonus point try before Walsh returned to play, Leinster raced their way back into the Ospreys half once more. Connor O’Brien releasing his centre partner Jimmy O’Brien to score the try.
As the Ospreys returned to full contingent, Leinster made sure to keep the momentum in their favour. A driving maul in the Ospreys half allowed Ronan Foley through to score just before half-time.
Half-time Leinster A 34 – 7 Ospreys Development team
The hosts made sure to carry their relentless attack into the second half. David Hawkshaw with a break midfield to score their sixth try of the game.
The Ospreys struggled to gain any headway against their opposition with the hosts winning the penalty just as the visitors made good ground. The Irish side making quick work to take back territory into the Ospreys half.
With a scrum in hand, the physicality from Leinster proved too much for the Ospreys, with Byrne crashing his way over for the brace on the back of a rolling maul.
Moments later, a quick break from Leinster saw Penny win the hat trick to take the hosts further ahead with just 10 minutes left to play.
But the Ospreys still did their best to put some pressure on their hosts in their own half. As they reached Leinster’s 22 an intercept out wide saw Leinster rip through the Ospreys defence before an offload to Byrne saw the hooker with the try. The conversion taking the final score to 53-7.
Next up for the Ospreys Development team is the visit of Ulster Ravens to the Morganstone Brewery Field on Friday 5th October, K.O 7pm.