Ospreys v Cardiff
United Rugby Championship
Brewery Field
1ST Jan 2026
Ospreys try scorers: Keelan Giles, Kieran Hardy (x2), Sam Parry, Iestyn Hopkins
Player of the Match: Kieran Hardy
Ospreys secured the festive Derby Double in bonus-point style at the Brewery Field to see in the New Year. A sold out crowd cheered on the boys as they ran in five tries against Cardiff to bring home a maximum 10 points from two games.
Derby season? Completed.
Thanks to our match sponsor, MKM Bridgend.
Opportunities were few and far between in the opening exchanges but the Ospreys were winning the early scrum battle. They marched the visitors back on their own ball and won a penalty at their first feed in.
The boys began to take control after that, forcing Cardiff into conceding multiple penalties in their 22 through some patient attacking play. But, the visitors were eventually able to hold the ball up and cleared their lines with the goal line drop out.
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! A move straight off the training ground! Ryan Smith pops a pass to Kieran Hardy who gets it out to Keelan for him to beat half off the Cardiff team to finish. Dan Edwards converted. Ospreys 7 - 0 Cardiff.
Cardiff were next to score and answered back with a quality try of their own, forcing a few overlaps on the wings in consecutive phases before Josh Adams was eventually able to touch it down. Sheedy converted. Ospreys 7 - 7 Cardiff.
Iestyn Hopkins was imperious in the air throughout, winning the Ospreys’ kicks back on multiple occasions and giving the boys an ideal platform to build the attack from.
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! A lineout on the Cardiff five gave the Ospreys some prime real estate to work with and Kieran Hardy was able to snipe over. Conversion missed. Ospreys 12 - 7 Cardiff.
Cardiff captain Belcher saw yellow on 30 minutes for tipping a player at the ruck. It went to the bunker but stayed a yellow for his return.
There was definitely an extra edge to the game that you would only get in a Welsh derby, with big hits and scuffles in abundance. Ryan Smith was looking no stranger to derby season, stealing multiple lineouts, winning turnovers and looking like a bully in the contact area.
HALF TIME: OSPREYS 12 - 7 CARDIFF.
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! The boys came out flying! A loose ball was recovered by Keiran Williams and popped outside to Iestyn who put the burners on, but was finally brought down by the last defender. Ryan Smith carried through a defender before feeding Sam Parry to power over and score. Dan Edwards converted. Ospreys 19 - 7 Cardiff.
OH MY TURNOVERS! Cardiff tried to answer right back with the ball under the Ospreys sticks, but Deaves came up big to steal it and allow the Dan Edwards to clear their lines. Shortly after, Ryan Smith won another one on half way to give the Ospreys an opportunity to put some more pressure on the Cardiff defence.
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! It's two in a row as Kieran Hardy dances through to finish one of his signature tries. Dan Edwards converted. Ospreys 26 - 7 Cardiff.
The kicking battle was dominated by the Ospreys, with Dan Edwards imperious off the boot.
Cardiff began to apply pressure to Ospreys in the redzone, but mid-hit Owen Watkin ripped the ball out of the carrier’s hands and the Ospreys cleared their lines. Take a bow, Owen!
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! The Ospreys maul was powering forward. When Cardiff finally managed to bring it to a stop the ball was whipped out wide to Iestyn Hopkins who danced down the touchline for our fifth try. Dan Edwards converted. Ospreys 33 - 7 Cardiff.
It was a strange final five minutes as Cardiff suddenly turned on the burners. They ran in three tries from Josh Adams, Taulupe Faletau and Javan Sebastian, no conversions made. It evened up the score board for Cardiff, but a huge 75 minutes from Ospreys was too much to overcome and five tries brought home five points.
FULL TIME: OSPREYS 33 - 22 CARDIFF.
2026 action doesn't stop there! We've got three big home fixtures coming up in January. Check out our next up and make sure you're there to back the boys.
