Dan Biggar kicks the Ospreys to victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup
Last Updated: 15/11/15 9:38pm
Dan Biggar's boot ensured the Ospreys recorded a 25-13 opening round European Champions Cup victory over Exeter Chiefs.
The fly-half kicked thirteen points in match before converting Josh Matavesi's interception try that sealed the home win.
Exeter went into the break with a 10-6 lead thanks to a James Short try but after a shaky afternoon with the boot Biggar regained his accuracy to steer his team to four points in Pool 2.
The hosts started strongly and the first points of the game came through the boot of Biggar. The Ospreys subjected Exeter to wave after wave of pressure close to the Premiership side's try line before the referee Marius Matrea took play back for an earlier penalty that the fly-half duly slotted.
Rob Baxter's men made a nervy start to the game and their opening quarter was littered with errors and their indiscipline further punished when they drifted offside and Biggar made no mistake with the kick at goal.
A Gareth Steenson penalty sparked the Chiefs into life and after a lengthy period with ball in hand their efforts looked to have been rewarded when Luke Cowan-Dickie crashed over the line. However, the hooker was deemed to have lost the ball while grounding it.
The first try of the game came soon after when Chief's scrum-half Will Chudley's audacious dummy allowed him to create the space for James Short who feigned inside before using his power round the outside and score.
Biggar had the chance to respond with the boot with two penalty attempts as the half drew to a close but uncharacteristically the fly-half sent both attempts to the far left of the posts and the Chiefs preserved their 10-6 advantage going into half-time.
Exeter were their own worst enemies at the start of the second period as their indiscipline gifted the Ospreys' a hat-trick of shots of goal, Biggar slotted two of his attempts either side of another miss as the driving rain hammered down in South Wales.
Both sides' territorial games came into play as the weather conditions took their toll and Steenson kicked a further three before a Slade mistake gifted the Ospreys field position enabling Biggar to strike a drop goal.
With 12 minutes remaining, Biggar kicked a further penalty before Matavesi found himself on the end of a floated Exeter pass and the centre raced away to seal the victory for the Ospreys and Biggar added the extras.