Edwards finds his feet to lead Ospreys home

■ By ROGER PANTING

Ospreys ………….37pts

Tries: Morgan 25, Morgan-Williams 48, Edwards 64, Penalty 79

Conversions: Edwards 25, 48, 64

Penalties: Edwards 8, 38

Drop goal: Edwards 52

Stormers ………. 24pts

Tries: Zas 5, Schickerling 70

Conversions: Matthee 5

Penalties: Matthee 11, 23, 39

Drop goals: Willemse 44

OSPREYS recovered from last week’s shock defeat to Dragons with an impressive victory in Bridgend.

Young fly-half Dan Edwards scored 20 points as the Brewery Field continued to be a happy hunting ground for Ospreys.

A second half revival saw Ospreys home with their tries coming from Jac Morgan, Reuben Morgan-Williams and Dan Edwards. There was a penalty try award, with Edwards adding three conversions, two penalties and a drop goal.

Leolin Zas and JD Schickerling scored tries for Stormers with Jurie Mathee kicking three penalties and a conversion. Damien Willemse added a drop goal.

For the first 45 minutes a hat-trick seemed unlikely as the hosts struggled to come to terms with the power of the South Africans. However, inspired by Edwards and his half-back partner Morgan-Williams, they roared back to send Stormers away pointless.

Forwards Justin Tipuric and Dewi Lake were at the heart of a committed performance from the pack whilst international centres Owen Watkin and

Keiran Williams reminded the Welsh selectors of their capabilities as they went toe to toe with more physical specimens.

Stormers began strongly to take an early lead when a well-judged cross-field kick from Matthee was collected by Ruben van Heerden to set up a try for Zas.

Matthee fired over the touchline conversion before he and Edwards exchanged penalties as Stormers dominated the opening quarter.

They extended their lead through a long-range penalty from Matthee after the hosts were sent backwards in a scrum on halfway.

replacement wing Har-He sent a kick down- attempt.

Against the run of play Ospreys scored next when Watkin, who had recently returned from passing an HIA, side-stepped two defenders with skipper Jac Morgan up in support to crash over.

Edwards converted before he and Matthee again exchanged penalties to leave Stormers with leading 16-13 at half-time.

Willemse dropped a goal but Ospreys took the lead for the first time when bursts from Williams and Lake set up a try for Morgan-Williams on his 100th appearance.

Edwards converted and then added a drop goal as his side competed more fiercely than in the first half. Morgan-Williams was the catalyst for Ospreys’ third try when his explosive kick and chase set up a try for Edwards.

Schickeling scored for Stormers as the hosts sustained late pressure before clinching victory with a penalty try as the South Africans collapsed a driving maul with Ben Jason Dixon sin-binned.