Munster come up short

Ospreys 20 Munster 12:   The Ospreys moved up a place to third in the Magners League with a two-try victory over Munster at …

Ospreys 20 Munster 12:  The Ospreys moved up a place to third in the Magners League with a two-try victory over Munster at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

But the Ospreys know they will have to improve if they are going to beat Leicester in the EDF Energy Cup final at Twickenham next week.

They suffered an early setback in the third minute when they were forced to make two back-row substitutions.

First a very groggy Andy Lloyd had to be helped off after appearing to have clashed heads with Alun Wyn Jones. Lloyd was replaced by Jonathan Thomas.

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And, to make matters worse for Lyn Jones, Steve Tandy was forced off with a shoulder injury, with Richie Pugh called in to action much earlier than he had expected.

But the home side regrouped as James Hook claimed the first try, which he also converted to give the Ospreys a 7-0 lead after 12 minutes.

But the crowd's early delight was muted three minutes later as Munster scrum-half Tomas O'Leary burst away unopposed to put lock Donnacha Ryan in for an unconverted try.

After being short with a 26th-minute penalty attempt, Hook was spot on with an easier chance on 30 minutes.

With a lot of ball being killed at the breakdown, referee David Changleng lost his patience and yellow-carded Munster lock Donncha O'Callaghan with Hook planting a second penalty to take the Ospreys into a 13-5 lead at half-time.

But neither side could make any meaningful attacks at the start of the second half despite the Ospreys seeing Hook and Andrew Bishops make breaks and Munster nearly getting a pushover try.

With the Ospreys losing their way, coach Jones sent on Adam Jones, Justin Marshall and Barry Williams to attempt to get them playing in the right areas.

It did the trick.

After just four minutes on the pitch, Marshall was darting over for a try from a line-out. Hook converted to give the Welsh region a 15-point cushion.

But Munster had the last say with a runaway try for wing Brian Carney in the right corner in the final minute after Ospreys replacement hooker Barry Williams was sin-binned.