A superb second-half score from Eli Walker and 14 points from the boot of Matthew Morgan handed the Ospreys a fourth successive win over the Dubliners and saw them climb to joint fourth in the standings ahead of the international break.
Man of the match Richard Fussell was the inspiration for Walker’s try, with his solo run handing the young wing the simplest of finishes on 62 minutes. Morgan’s quickly-taken lineout gave Fussell the chance to attack from his own 22 and the Ospreys full back cut a jagged defensive line to shreds before drawing Dave Kearney in fine style.
A continuous downpour in Swansea put paid to any hopes of a free-flowing encounter between last season’s Grand Finalists but it was the Ospreys who dug deepest despite a disappointing start.
Steve Tandy’s men found themselves 10-0 down after just eight minutes when an early Ian Madigan penalty was added to by a converted try from Leo Auva’a.
Rhys Ruddock charged down namesake Webb’s attempted box kick andAuva’atook full advantage of the scrum-half’s mistake. The giant Kiwi was first to react when Andrew Bishop failed to gather the loose ball and Leinster were free to celebrate a deserved lead, even if TMO Nigel Whitehouse did decide to keep them waiting.
But the Ospreys refused to panic and were the only side to trouble the scoreboard for the remaining 72 minutes.
Three Morgan penalties had them back to within a point by half time as old heads and young hands stuck together in testing circumstances.
The reigning champions showed even greater composure in the second period when they lost Duncan Jones to the sin bin 11 minutes after the break. The former Wales prop was yellow carded for coming in at the side and killing the ball on halfway but, rather than swing the game back in Leinster’s favour, his indiscretion seemed to pull an Ospreys side missing their entire current Wales contingent even closer together.
Morgan’s quick thinking and Fussell’s individual brilliance had the Ospreys ahead for the first time just as Jones prepared to return and they were good value for the win from there on in.
A well-taken drop goal from Morgan with six minutes left sealed a fifth victory of the domestic campaign and denied their rivals the solace of a losing bonus point.
