Ospreys take five in Treviso

Treviso could not repeat what they did to Munster last week as the Ospreys won 34-18 against the Italians at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday.

Nikki Walker raced in for a hat-trick of tries as Ospreys maintained their

challenge for the Magners League title.

Ospreys included Ireland international Tommy Bowe in their line-up for the

first time since he was sidelined with a knee injury in mid-January, but

it was exiled Scot Walker who stole the show for the Welsh region.

Six of Treviso's seven Magners League wins this season had come at their

Stadio Monigo fortress, however Ospreys never looked in danger of losing

after building up a 17-0 lead inside the first half an hour.

Walker crossed for his and the game's opening score on 11 minutes and lock

Ian Gough quickly followed him onto the scoresheet for his first try in 83

appearances, with centre Ashley Beck adding a third as Ospreys went about

their business in ruthless fashion.

Fly-half Dan Biggar missed three of his four kicks at goal, though, and

Treviso found a foothold in the match through Tobie Botes' two penalties.

Walker's second just after the break reasserted the visitors' dominance

and he completed his hat-trick with just 53 minutes on the clock.

It was the Aberdeen-born player's second hat-trick of the season and took

his tally to an impressive 36 tries in 97 games for the side he joined six

years ago.

Biggar converted and added a penalty before Treviso secured two late

consolation tries through scrum-half Botes who scored all the Italian

side's points on the night.

The scorers:

For Treviso:
Tries: Botes 2
Con: Botes
Pen: Botes 2

For Ospreys:
Tries: Walker 3, Gough, Beck
Con: Biggar 3
Pen: Biggar

Treviso: 15 Brendan Williams, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Ezio Galon, 12 Andrea Pratichetti, 11 Michele Sepe, 10 Willem De Waal, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Marco Filippucci, 7 Gonzalo Padrņ, 6 Benjamin Vermaak, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Pedro Di Santo, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet.
Replacements: 16 Enrico Ceccato, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Enrico Pavanello, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21Benjamin De Jager, 22 Tommaso Benvenuti, 23 Andrea Marcato.

Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Jerry Collins, 7 Justin Tipuric (capt), 6 Tom Smith, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Craig Cross, 19 Andy Lloyd, 20 James King, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Dai Flanagan, 23 Tom Isaacs.

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)