Guinness PRO12: Webb wins it for Ospreys with two late tries
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 01/05/16 10:28pm
Rhys Webb scored two tries at the death to hand Ospreys a 40-27 derby win over Cardiff Blues at the Principality Stadium.
The Blues were a point ahead with just five minutes remaining before Webb sparked the comeback with a cheeky dart from a ruck for a try in the corner before the Wales No 9 added another in the dying seconds to secure the victory.
It was a win that looked unlikely when the Blues were 17-7 ahead with 50 minutes played, but winger Hanno Dirksen scored two tries in quick succession to put the Ospreys ahead.
The lead changed hands several times thereafter before Ospreys stretched ahead right at the end. The win means they are now in seventh place in the Guinness PRO12 standings.
It was a tough loss for the Blues to swallow, as they now sit ninth in the standings, but there was more bad news as Sam Warburton left the field during the first half with an injury.
Though the Ospreys scored the only try of the first half, the Blues led 9-7 at the break thanks to the boot of Anscombe, and things looked even better for Danny Wilson's side when they made the perfect start to the second half.
When the Ospreys tried to run the ball out of their own 22-metre area, Rey Lee-Lo ran up quick in defence to disrupt the ball. It resulted in a turnover, and after recycling the ball through several phases Gareth Anscombe floated a pass over the line of defenders to Aled Summerhill, who ran in untouched.
Anscombe was unable to convert, but added a further three points when Ospreys were penalised at a scrum on the 50-minute mark.
Dirksen hit back for Ospreys when he took an impressive pass between the legs from Rynier Bernardo, and the South African raced to the corner for the score.
Dirksen was back in the action when a box kick from Rhys Webb proved the undoing of Tom James in front of his own line; centre Owen Watkin claimed the ball after it bounced and passed to Dirksen who dotted down. The nervy conversion from Dan Biggar gave Ospreys a 19-17 lead as the third quarter drew to a close.
A superb individual effort from Josh Navidi handed the Blues the lead once more, after the No 8 threw a dummy to break the line and shrugged off the last defenders to give Anscombe a regulation conversion for a five-point advantage.
The lead would not last long, as replacement flanker Sam Underhill went crashing over the line from close range to make it 26-24 to Ospreys with ten minutes remaining. However directly from the restart hooker Sam Parry was penalised for blocking Dan Fish chasing the kick-off, and Anscombe called for the kicking tee to nose his side ahead by a point.
Things looked ominous for Ospreys with time running out, but when they were on the attack near the right touchline Webb grabbed the ball from the base of a ruck and shaped to pass before diving over the pile of bodies to score a cheeky try in the corner.
The Blues were still in the game, just six points behind, but the win was sealed for Ospreys when Webb broke from a scrum and ran in the final try of the game to make a close game look comfortable for the winners.