LV= Cup: Saracens beat Ospreys thanks to seven Ben Spencer penalties
Last Updated: 07/11/14 10:25pm
Ben Spencer's boot proved enough for Saracens to record a 21-9 victory over the Ospreys in the LV= Cup at the Gnoll.
Scrum-half Spencer kicked seven penalties out of nine attempts at goal to win the man of the match award in a game dominated by place kicks.
Sam Davies kicked three penalties of his own for a much-changed Ospreys side that included the fit-again Ashley Beck, the centre making his first start of the season following a hip injury.
Aberavon centre Aled Jenkins, Neath prop Gareth Thomas, former Wales Under-20 lock Rory Thornton and Fijian back-rower Ifereimi Boladau all made their debuts for the hosts.
Saracens also paraded a number of their emerging stars with England Under-20 World Cup-winning captain Maro Itoje leading a youthful line-up that included five debutants.
Downpour
The Ospreys, playing a competitive game at the ground in Neath for the first time in nine seasons, managed six points in the first half of a match that wasn't helped by a downpour just before kick-off.
Sarries led 12-6 at the break, though they were forced to cope with a 10-minute spell down to 14 men after wing George Perkins was shown a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Dafydd Howells.
With the extra man Ospreys levelled matters at 6-6 with Davies' second penalty, but Spencer responded on 30 and 34 minutes.
The Welsh club did not help their cause three minutes into the second half when prop Gareth Thomas became the second man sent to the sin-bin, following a tip tackle on Matt Hankin.
Davies struck first with his third penalty on 55 minutes and at that stage there was little to split the sides.
However Saracens responded quickly with another effort from Spencer after 57, then dominated the final quarter. Further penalties, on 60 and 78 minutes, secured the win for the Aviva Premiership side.
