Ospreys' interest ends

Welsh region score win over Wasps but bow out of the LV= Cup

Ospreys scored an 18-13 win over Wasps at Brewery Field on Sunday as their interest in this season's LV= Cup came to an end.

Although the visitors scored the only tries of an uninspiring game through Mark van Gisbergen and Tom Varndell, the goal-kicking of Dai Flanagan and Dan Biggar saw the Ospreys home.

They were, however, unable to play at the Liberty Stadium owing to the Swansea v Cardiff npower Championship match.

In contrast, Wasps' own goal-kicking courtesy of Dave Walder was poor. They also failed to make enough use of impressive wings Richard Haughton and Varndell, and should really have been comfortably ahead by half-time.

The home side rarely threatened the opposing try line but in centre Tom Isaacs, they had the most determined runner on show and he easily outshone the Wasps combination of Dominic Waldouck and Riki Flutey.

The Ospreys took an early lead when Flanagan kicked a third-minute penalty after Wasps were penalised at a scrum 40 metres out.

They soon responded, though, and a long pass from Varndell saw Haughton hauled down narrowly short of the Ospreys' line.

The visitors then had a succession of attacking five-metre scrums but could not turn them into points.

Hash

They should have drawn level but Walder instead made a dreadful hash of a 25-metre penalty attempt.

They were made to pay after 28 minutes when Flanagan extended the Ospreys' lead with a well-struck angled penalty before Wasps responded with the first try of the game.

After the ball had been moved sweetly along the line, Haughton evaded the tackle of Gareth Owen before providing an inside scoring pass to the supporting Van Gisbergen.

Walder was again found wanting as his conversion attempt from the touchline went horribly astray and a long-range penalty attempt also fell short just before half-time.

The Ospreys therefore started the second half 6-5 in front and Wasps suffered a blow within four minutes of the restart when Van Gisbergen left the field with an injury.

Shortly after, the Ospreys produced their most fluid move of the game. Isaacs started the momentum with a fine angled run out of defence and it was continued by Justin Tipuric and Craig Cross.

The visitors conceded a penalty and Flanagan was successful with a simple kick to extend his side's lead.

Another fine run from centre Isaacs put the Ospreys on the attack once again and, when Wasps offended, Flanagan kicked his fourth penalty to give his side a 12-5 advantage going into the final quarter.

Flanagan was replaced by Biggar just before the hour mark but it was Wasps who earned the next three-pointer as Walder finally hit the target from 20 metres.

Cancelled out

Even so, his score was soon cancelled out when Biggar dropped a neat goal.

The Welshman nearly extended the Ospreys' lead soon after, only to be narrowly beaten to the touchdown after a kick and a chase, but he then added another penalty to give the hosts a 10-point cushion.

Wasps scored a late consolation try through Varndell but Walder again missed the extras.