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Ospreys began their Rainbow Cup campaign with a bonus-point 36-14 victory over the Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium.
Two tries from Ifan Phillips and further scores from Keiran Williams, Matthew Aubrey, Sam Cross and Sam Parry along with six points from the boot of Josh Thomas got the Ospreys off to a winning start.
The win was, however, marred by concerns for George North, who limped off the field in the second half, casting doubt on his availability for the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
George North clutching his knee in agony after an awkward side step. He's been helped from the field by the medics, without the need of a stretcher. ?
— Ross Harries (@rossharries1) April 24, 2021
Cardiff Blues scored two tries of their own courtesy of Max Llewellyn and Ellis Bevan, with Ben Thomas kicking four points.
Phillips opened the scoring for the Ospreys after eight minutes, with the hooker powering over from short range thanks to a well-worked driving line-out.
A sizzling break from left wing Matthew Protheroe from inside his own half sparked the hosts into life. But the attack came to nothing as Dan Evans was knocked into touch by Alun Lawrence.
Ospreys extended their lead after 31 minutes with inside centre Williams touching down. Cardiff second-row Ben Murphy charged down Aubrey’s box kick but wing Jason Harries failed to take the ball, with Protheroe pouncing before putting Williams.
And Ospreys took a commanding 19-0 lead into the interval when Morgan Morris reacted quickly to Ben Thomas’ charged down kick, drawing his man to put Aubrey over with Josh Thomas again successful with the conversion.
Ospreys were dealt a blow in the early stages of the second half when Wales star George North was helped off the field after falling awkwardly, injuring his right knee.
Ospreys secured their bonus-point try after 48 minutes when Phillips smashed his way over the line from short range for his second score, with the home side’s pack bullying their Welsh rivals.
Cardiff were also reduced to 14 men with tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti sent to the sin-bin for illegally sacking a driving line-out.
“That’s one of the moments that will live forever in my head but maybe in his it has completely gone."
Do not test @MaggieAlphonsi ?https://t.co/XS0m6DrEws
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 24, 2021
It took Cardiff 63 minutes to score their first points of the game and it came courtesy of inside centre Llewellyn, who hit a tremendous line to gallop in unopposed from 35 metres out.
But Ospreys hit straight back with a period of sustained pressure in Cardiff territory. After going through the phases a terrific offload from Josh Thomas put Cross over for their fifth try.
To their credit, Cardiff refused to throw in the towel and scored an impressive consolation try, with Llewellyn hit another gorgeous angle to put replacement scrum-half Bevan over.
But they ended the game with 14 men as Jason Harries was sent to the sin-bin for another driving line-out infringement, with Sam Parry crossing from short range for Ospreys’ sixth try.
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