Ospreys 16 - 19 Cardiff Blues

A stuttering start to the festive derbies saw Cardiff Blues scrape past the Ospreys at the Liberty on Saturday night.

It was a bruising encounter between the two Welsh regions, with just three points separating the two after 80 minutes. The two outside halves, Ospreys' Marty McKenzie and Cardiff Blues' Jarrod Evans, exchanged penalties in the first quarter. Ospreys then took the lead with a penalty try, after scrumhalf Tomos Williams prevented flanker Dan Lydiate from crossing the line with a tackle around the neck. Another penalty goal each from McKenzie and replacement Jason Tovey kept the deficit at four points until outside half Evans' gathered scrumhalf Williams' chip through to score a decisive try beneath the posts.

Justin Tipuric, Ospreys captain

"The boys are feeling it in the changing rooms. It's a tough one to stomach."

McKenzie managed to draw the game level with a quarter of the game yet to play. The Ospreys, who were deemed to have intentionally wheeled the scrum under the shadow of their own posts, gifted Tovey another penalty which gave the visitors the lead with precious little time remaining.

Despite a last-ditch effort from the hosts, Cardiff Blues managed to hold out for a narrow victory.

Carl Hogg, forwards coach

"The players are desperate to perform and to get the result. We need to relax a little bit."

Ospreys' attention now turns to the big Boxing Day bout against west Wales rivals, Scarlets. The game will kick off at 5:15pm on Thursday. Both teams will be looking for redemption, following a dramatic last gasp victory by the Dragons over the Scarlets at Rodney Parade on Saturday.