Ospreys v BENETTON
BKT UNITED RUGBY championship
Swansea.com Stadium
24 January 2025
The season returned to league action as the boys looked to bring their European form into the BKT URC. What followed was a totally dominant performance that saw Ospreys run in six tries and hold the visitors to 0 in their biggest league win in seven years.
The first opportunity of the game went to the visiting team as Benetton almost drove over the line for the score near the five minute mark. A Thomas Gallo carry was originally given as a try, but the replays showed a crucial intervention from Will Spencer that forced a knock-on.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! The backs worked a superb move to give an in-form Evardi Boshoff the opportunity to isolate a Benetton defender and ship the ball to Reuben Morgan-Williams, who then popped it out to send Jack Walsh over for the score. Owen Williams converted. Ospreys 7 - 0 Benetton.
50-22! A quality kick from Jack Walsh gave Ospreys territory in the Benetton 22, but it was the build that should make the highlights. A crossfield kick from Owen Williams was recovered superbly by the Postman, Dan Kasende, who delivered it back inside for Jack to do the rest.
The Benetton defence managed to hold strong to prevent Ospreys scoring their second try, but the boys were still able to come away with a penalty in front of the sticks. Owen Williams took it cleanly. Ospreys 10 - 0 Benetton.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! The variation in the Ospreys attack was proving too much for Benetton in the first 20 minutes. Another perfectly worked move gave Tips the opportunity to put a 'don’t argue' on a defender before he passed it out to Dan Kasende who finished with aplomb. Owen Williams was solid off the tee with another conversion. Ospreys 17 - 0 Benetton.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! Lew Lloyd threw a perfect ball over the top of the lineout to Keiran Williams and the boys got some quick ball in the following phases which forced a penalty advantage. That triggered the backs to go wide and Keith ran a superb line to power over for the score. Owen converted again. Ospreys 24 - 0 Benetton.
The Ospreys attack will probably take the headlines in the first half, but the line speed of the defence was forcing Benetton into multiple errors. With under 10 minutes left in the half, Reuben Morgan-Williams read a move perfectly that killed their momentum and ultimately forced a forward pass.
As usual, Tips was making an absolute nuisance of himself at the breakdown, winning turnovers for fun and constantly disrupting Benetton ball at the ruck.
TRY SAVING TACKLE FROM LEW LLOYD! Izekor broke through and appeared to be in the clear, but somehow Lew managed to close him down and dive at his legs to bring the giant back rower down. Mr turnover, AKA Tips, stole the ball and Keiran Williams kicked it out to end the half.
An unreal performance from the Ospreys in the first half.
HALF TIME: Ospreys 24 - 0 Benetton
The heavy rain that started in the first half continued to impact the game as the second got off to a slightly slower start. Both teams were opting for the boot, trying to test the hands of their opposition.
The Ospreys seemed to be growing in dominance during scrum time in the second half, with Garyn Phillips and Tommy Botha both getting the better of their man opposite.
With opportunities few and far between, a half-chance for Benetton opened up after Rhyno Smith chased a kick through near the Ospreys line. But some quick thinking from Jack Walsh killed any Benetton hope as he slid back and, in the same motion, popped it to Evardi Boshoff to relive the pressure. Good hands from the backs.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! Ethan Lewis found a gap in the Benetton defence, offloaded to a rampaging Evardi, and popped it out to Jack Walsh who finished with ease for his second try and the bonus point. The support running from the Ospreys had been second to none throughout the game. Conversion successful. Ospreys 31 - 0 Benetton.
Ospreys emptied the bench for the last twenty, with fresh legs continuing to pin Benetton back in their own half.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! There was no let up as an Ospreys scrum saw the ball pop out the back and Morgan Morse force his way over the line from close range for the finish. The conversion was wide. Ospreys 36 - 0 Benetton.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! And still, there was time for one more. Ospreys secured their sixth try in the closing play of the game as Keiran Hardy burst through, then finished his own opportunity for the final score. Jack Walsh converted. Ospreys 43 - 0 Benetton.
FULL TIME: Ospreys 43 - 0 Benetton
A HUGE performance from a clinical Ospreys team who are now undefeated in five games. Show them what their effort means to you and make sure you're there to cheer them on at our next home game, as we take on Leinster Rugby at home on February 14th.
