Big win soured by injury blow to North

By STEFFAN THOMAS

Ospreys …………36pts 

Tries: Phillips 8, 49; Williams 31, Aubrey 40, Cross 68, Parry 80

Conversions: Thomas 32, 40, 69

Cardiff …………….14pts

Tries: Llewellyn 63, Bevan 73 

Conversions: Thomas 63, 73

THE Ospreys got their Rainbow Cup campaign off to a flying start with a comprehensive victory over Cardiff, but their win was overshadowed by a nasty looking injury to Wales star George North.

North, who was a revelation in Wales' recent Six Nations title winning campaign playing outside centre, appeared to be in agony as he fell awkwardly onto his right knee.

He was helped off the pitch and Ospreys head coach Toby Booth admitted it didn't look too good for the Wales centurion just a week away from the announcement of the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa.

“You always worry when people get injured when no one is near them,” said Booth. “That doesn't normally bode well for anybody so that makes it sound like it's structural. The next 48 hours are crucial in relation to assessment and management.

“We've got a very good medical team with a lot of experience. We'll know over the next few days when it settles and we get some images in to confirm what we are actually dealing with.”

Ifan Phillips opened the scoring for the Ospreys after eight minutes, with the hooker powering over from short-range courtesy of a well worked driving lineout with Keiran Williams crossing for their second.

Cardiff lock Ben Murphy charged down Matthew Aubrey's box kick, but wing Jason Harries failed to take the ball and Mat Protheroe pounced before putting Williams over.

And the Ospreys took a commanding 19-0 lead into the interval when Morgan Morris reacted quickly to Ben Thomas' charged down kick and drew his man to put Aubrey over.

The 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 rivals. Cardiff Blues were also reduced to 14 men with tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti sent to the sin bin for illegally sacking a driving lineout.

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, with Thomas adding the extras.

Touchdown: Keiran Williams scores for the Ospreys

PICTURE: Getty Images

But the Ospreys hit straight back with a period of sustained pressure in the Cardiff 22. After going through the phases a terrific offload from Thomas put Cross over for their fifth try with Thomas converting.

To their credit Cardiff refused to throw in the towel and scored an impressive consolation try when Llewellyn hit another fine 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 sacking a driving lineout, with Sam Parry crossing from short range for the Ospreys' sixth try.

“I think the big thing for myself coming in, it's really important I see what we've got,” said Cardiff Blues director of rugby Dai Young.

“The important thing for me was to see what strength in depth we've got and I had a few answers today.”