The Ospreys got their Heineken Cup hopes back on track with a seven-try bonus-point victory over Ulster. First half tries by Sonny Parker and Justin Marshall put Lyn Jones’s men in total command before Alun Wyn Jones, Filo Tiatia, Nikki Walker and Lee Byrne sealed an emphatic 48-17 victory after the break.
Now, the Ospreys travel to Belfast next weekend aiming for back-to-back wins as they keep up the pressure on pool leaders Gloucester.
Jones’s men stormed into the lead after just five minutes when a flowing move including the recalled fly half James Hook and Lee Byrne found centre Parker in oceans of space to score.
And the Ospreys should have increased their advantage three minutes later but Wales wing Shane Williams – who made a fantastic 70-metre run – failed to find the overlapping flanker Jonathan Thomas to his left.
Ulster were struggling to cope with the physicality of the Ospreys and the home side’s power eventually told on 20 minutes when the hosts doubled their try count. Another passage of intense pressure and possession in the Ulster 22 resulted in former All Black scrum half Justin Marshall breaking through the Irish defence to score under the posts.
Hook added the extras to make it 15-0 to cap a comfortable opening quarter for the Ospreys. Ulster responded immediately with Paddy Wallace’s penalty and for the rest of the half managed to stem the Ospreys’ potent attack.
But just three minutes after the interval, the visitors were stretched again. Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones collected Duncan Jones’s pass to touchdown with consummate ease before the Ospreys notched up the crucial bonus-point on 48 minutes when Hook’s skilful pass allowed captain Filo Tiatia to score.
Ulster scored their first try through scrum half Isaac Boss before Walker scored the first of two tries with a wonderful solo run.
Byrne charged through for the Ospreys’ sixth try before Simon Danielli touched down but Walker had the final say with an injury-time try to round off a convincing win.
