PARIS: Ospreys edged Clermont 25-24 in a nail-biting European Cup clash on Sunday in which the French club fought back from a 19-point deficit.
Tommy Bowe, Ryan Jones and Barry Davies scored five-pointers for the home side at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium with Dan Biggar hitting two conversions and a penalty, and James Hook knocking over an early drop-goal.
Clermont only managed a sole Brock James drop-goal in the first-half but scored three tries early in the second through Benoit Baby, Thomas Domingo and Alexandre Lapandry, all converted by James to ensure Clermont a losing bonus point.
Hook, playing at center as Ospreys coach Scott Johnson opted for the in-form Biggar at outside half, got the scoring under way with a second-minute drop-goal.
Biggar missed with a second effort just a minute later but Irish center Bowe touched down after a dink through from Nikki Walker soon after.
Clermont got their first points on the board after 20 minutes when Australian outside-half James scrambled over a left-footed drop-goal.
Biggar missed a penalty but the Opsreys took full advantage after Clermont lock Thibaut Privat was yellow carded for a late tackle, captain Ryan Jones crashing over unopposed for a second try for the home side. Biggar kicked the extras for a 15-3 lead as numerical advantage was nullified when ex-All Black enforcer Jerry Collins was sin binned for shoulder charging James.
The Ospreys turned the screw with a third try on the stroke of halftime, Walker collecting a Biggar chip to feed Hook, who offloaded to Barry Davies and the full-back had a clear run-in to the line.
Biggar was successful with the conversion to give the home side a 22-3 lead against last season’s beaten French championship finalists.
But Clermont came firing back with three converted tries in the first 12 minutes of the restart.
First Baby followed up a clever Julien Bonnaire grubber for a try in the corner well converted by James. Ospreys, who conceded a large first-half lead in their opening European Cup 32-all draw with Leicester, then saw replacement prop Domingo driven over for a five-pointer James also converted.
The third try came as Domingo offloaded and Mario Ledsma flicked the ball back into the arms of 20-year-old flanker Lapandry, who crashed over for a try James again converted to hand the visitors a 24-22 lead.
Biggar hit a 50-meter penalty to hand the Ospreys a slender advantage before Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga was denied a try by the television official for a foot in touch as he crossed the line.
With eight minutes remaining, James then had a penalty effort come back off the post and the Ospreys hung on for a vital win.
