Ospreys tame the Tigers

The Ospreys ran in eight tries on their way to a 46-13 victory over Leicester to kick-start their LV= Cup campaign.

Both sides lost their opening group stage matches last week but it was the Magners League champions who responded the better, romping to victory over the English champions in emphatic style.

Even with 11 players absent on international duty, the Ospreys turned on a vibrant performance in atrocious conditions to the delight of a big crowd in Bridgend.

The Tigers' 17-year-old fly-half George Ford edged the visitors in front with an early penalty, but it was his opposite number, 18-year-old Matthew Morgan who helped inspire an incredible try-scoring burst moments later.

On nine minutes Kristian Phillips raced to the outside and chipped through to touch down the first of five tries in 15 minutes for the Welsh side.

Sonny Parker's well-angled burst helped set up Morgan for a score, then from the kick-off the fly-half's break set up a 70-metre try completed by Richard Fussell.

Morgan's short pass then picked out Ashley Beck on a superb running line and the centre cruised over for a bonus point try after just 23 minutes.

And a minute later another Morgan break created another long-range try, this time rounded off by Rhys Webb.

Leicester were reeling but did hit back before the break after stealing a line-out deep in Ospreys territory, Ben Pienaar crashing over between the posts from close range.

The second half was unsurprisingly a more subdued affair as Leicester stiffened their defensive resistance and the Ospreys toned down their ambition.

Ford kicked a penalty for the Tigers but another brilliant run from Morgan and perfectly weighted kick into the corner gave Phillips his second try.

Seven minutes from time it was Beck who slipped through a kick for Sonny Parker to slide in and ground and with time almost expired the Ospreys pack got in on the act, forcing a penalty try as an under-pressure Leicester scrum collapsed on their own line.

The scorers:

For Ospreys:
Tries: Phillips 2, Morgan, Fussell, Beck, Webb, Parker, Penalty try
Cons: Morgan, Prydie, Owen

For Leicester:
Try: Armes
Con: Ford
Pens: Ford 2

Ospreys: 15 Tom Prydie, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Andy Lloyd, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 James King, 5 James Goode, 4 Conor McInerney, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Mefin Davies (c), 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Joe Rees, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Ian Gough, 20 Marty Holah, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Gareth Owen, 23 Barry Davies.

Leicester: 15 Alex Lewington, 14 Lee Robinson, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Andy Forsyth, 11 Will Hurrell, 10 George Ford, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Ben Pienaar (c), 7 Tom Armes, 6 Dan Hemingway, 5 Ben Gulliver, 4 Calum Green, 3 Ryan Bower, 2 Rob Hawkins, 1 Camilo Parilli-Ocampo.
Replacements: 16 Joe Duffey, 17 Fraser Balmain, 18 Peter Bucknall, 19 Matt Everard, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Stephen Macaulay, 23 Rory Lynn.

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)