Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby
Unites Rugby Championship
Swansea.com Stadium
19th April 2025
Judgement Day returned to the Principality Stadium for its tenth instalment as Ospreys and Cardiff battled it out for vital points in the race to the URC playoffs. Ospreys scored first and enjoyed the share of the possession, but Cardiff were lethal on the attack and denied a late Ospreys comeback to put the game to bed with two tries in the final minutes.
The first highlight reel contender of the game was put out by Morgan Morse, who somehow managed to tackle Mulder off the ruck whilst ripping the ball simultaneously in the same movement.
As we passed the five-minute mark, Cardiff were reduced to 14 men after a defender went in high on Dan Edwards. The Cardiff set piece was being put under some real pressure in the early stages, with Ospreys stealing two in succession from the away side.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! Captain Jac broke through multiple defenders but was brought down just before the line. Reuben whipped it quickly to Keiran Williams who stepped his man and finished with ease. Dan Eds converted. Ospreys 7 - 0 Cardiff.
12th April 2025
Cardiff answered back through Alex Mann not long after the Ospreys score. A string of penalties gave the away team good field position and they were eventually able to profit after a few carries near the line. Sheedy converted. Ospreys 7 - 7 Cardiff.
Hamer-Webb was the next man to score, giving Cardiff the lead. With numbers on the left, the away side worked the ball out wide before the winger was able to finish. Sheedy missed the conversion. Ospreys 7 - 12 Cardiff.
The next opportunities went to the Ospreys who secured successive lineouts near the Cardiff line, but the away team were able to hold them out before hitting back on the counter attack. Hamer-Webb was able to add to his tally, finishing a quick breakaway to score Cardiff’s third of the game. Sheedy missed the conversion. Ospreys 7 - 17 Cardiff.
It looked like it had opened up for the Ospreys as Reuven Morgan-Williams cut through multiple Cardiff defenders, but a retreating Cardiff player was able to get in the way of an offload.
Cardiff scored their bonus point try not long after through Alex Mann. Cardiff’s smash and grab style played diffidence in the first half as they converted their opportunities with rapid place. Conversion missed. Ospreys 7 - 22 Cardiff.
With less than a minute remaining in the half Ospreys were reduced to 14 as Morgan Morse saw yellow. With the clock in the red, Taulupe Faletau crossed for Cardiff but try was disallowed due to a croc roll at the preceding ruck.
HALF TIME: Ospreys 7 - 22 Cardiff.
Despite having the one-man disadvantage, Ospreys came out strong in the second half with an extended spell of pressure deep into Cardiff territory. But, the away side were eventually able to hold them out before clearing their lines after scrum.
Almost instantly after Ospreys returned to 15, Cardiff received their second yellow of the game after Alex Mann tackled high on Reuben Morgan-Williams.
Ospreys seemed to do everything but score in the first 20 minutes of the second half. A highlight of the opportunities was started off by a quality break from Ratti, but Cardiff’s scramble defence was doing enough.
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! The pressure eventually told. After a sprinting breka down the wing by Keelan Giles, Keiran Williams forced an offload with a penalty advantage and Will Spencer recovered it superbly to get a try back. Conversion missed. Ospreys 12 - 22 Cardiff.
With over 60 minutes played, it looked as if Cardiff had scored their fifth try of the game after a charge down but some last ditch defending from the boys held the ball up.
With five minutes to go Cardiff received their third yellow of the game for a deliberate knock on, but there was no clear route to a penalty try.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! The boys made instant use of the penalty and man advantage as they forced their way back into the Cardiff 22. Kieran Hardy picked up from the base of the ruck to score the try. Ospreys 19 - 22 Cardiff.
With minutes to go, it looked like Ospreys might pull off an unlikely come back, but Cardiff continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and put that idea to bed, first with a penalty try from the maul and then through a heart-breaking run by man of the match Gabe Hamer-Webb. Ospreys 19 - 36 Cardiff.
FULL TIME: Ospreys 19 - 36 Cardiff.
It wasn't to be against a fired-up Cardiff side who were constantly on the break to the try line.
Now, attention turns to our final home game of the 24/25 season as we welcome Dragons to the Swansea.com Stadium for another big Welsh derby. Get your tickets to back the boys.