Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric scored two tries each as the Ospreys beat the Cheetahs 46-14 in Swansea on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
The Cheetahs may have suffered a second consecutive defeat, but they delivered a much better account of themselves this week. Unfortunately for them, the Ospreys had the composure and patience to effectively curb the Cheetahs’ early fighting spirit before running away with the game in the last quarter.
Their Test trio of George North, Wyn Jones and captain Tipuric were in supreme form. It was the perfect understanding between Tipuric and Wyn Jones that inspired the hosts’ opening try, when the latter took an angled run onto a brilliant inside pass from the former to score.
The Cheetahs started to see more of the ball and scored through hard-working No 8 Jasper Wiese. Tian Schoeman converted to level the scores.
North then began to impose himself on the game. With nothing on the cards, he came in off his wing and went straight down the middle with a surging run. While he was brought down short of the line, hooker Scott Otten barged over.
North would slide over for his second try late in the half before Sam Davies added the conversion and a penalty for a 22-7 lead.
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The Cheetahs responded through winger Rabx Maxwane, but the Ospreys finished on a high. First, Tipuric dashed over for a double that took him into the Ospreys’ top 10 try-scorers list (the only forward) before Wyn Jones claimed his second.
Ospreys – Tries: Alun Wyn Jones (2), Scott Otten, George North, Alex Jeffries, Justin Tipuric (2). Conversions: Sam Davies (4). Penalty: Davies.
Cheetahs – Tries: Jasper Wiese, Rabz Maxwane (2). Conversions: Tian Schoeman (2).
Ospreys – 15 Dan Evans, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Tom Williams, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Aled Davies, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Nicky Smith.
Subs: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Alex Jeffries, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 James Hook, 23 Joe Thomas.
Cheetahs – 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 William Small-Smith, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Shaun Venter (c), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Aidon Davis , 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Walt Steenkamp, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Ernst Stapelberg, 23 Ryno Eksteen.
Photo: @ospreys/Twitter
