David Strettle scores twice as Clermont Auvergne edge Ospreys
Last Updated: 22/11/15 7:19pm
Ospreys scored two tries in the final two minutes to claim two bonus points from their 34-29 loss at Clermont Auvergne.
Clermont retained their proud European home record at the Stade Marcel-Michelin with David Strettle scoring two brilliant tries and centres Aurelien Rougerie and Wesley Fofana also getting over the line.
But the visitors registered four second-half tries through Justin Tipuric, Eli Walker, Sam Parry and Tom Habberfield, with Dan Biggar slotting three conversions and a drop goal to keep them top of Pool 2.
The Ospreys had won just one of their 14 games across the Channel and few gave them any hope of improving that record against a Clermont side unbeaten at home in European competition since a defeat to Sale in 2008.
However, the Welsh side started positively and should have had the first try in the 13th minute.
A lovely lineout move involving Brendon Leonard and Scott Baldwin would have sent prop Dmitri Arhip over the line had Clermont flanker Alexandre Lapandry not tackled him before the scoring pass arrived.
Lapandry was sent to the sin bin but referee George Clancy opted not to award a penalty try, although it seemed certain Arhip would have scored without the illegal tackle.
Biggar did at least put them ahead with a well-taken drop goal in the 17th minute, only for the Wales international to blot his copybook by misjudging an aerial challenge on Fritz Lee that allowed Lopez to level the scores with a penalty.
Clermont were beginning to assert their authority and two big charges from lock Sebastien Vahaamahina put them in a promising position.
The Ospreys scrambled the ball clear but Nick Abendanon made them pay for the loose clearance as he linked with Strettle, who broke the line and brilliantly beat full-back Dan Evans to score.
The visitors were struggling and they looked out of it when Lopez's clever pass sent Rougerie over, and the former kicked the conversion and a penalty to open up a 17-point lead.
But the Ospreys roared out of the blocks early in the second half and scored two tries in the space of three minutes.
Firstly, Tipuric was rolled over the line from an excellent maul and Clermont had barely digested that score when another followed.
Walker kicked ahead and when Tipuric hacked the ball further on the Ospreys wing caught Noa Nakaitaci snoozing to beat him to the touch down.
Biggar's conversion had the Ospreys within three points, but Strettle ultimately sunk their hopes of a famous win with another great finish.
The former Saracens man scooped up a loose ball and left three defenders for dead to race under the posts before Fofana gathered a pinpoint cross-kick from Brock James for the fourth Clermont try.
The Ospreys bravely rallied. Replacement hooker Parry cantered over and, with the final move off the game, Biggar led a sensational counter that ended with Habberfield racing in from 40 metres for a fourth try of their own.
