A late try by Filo Tiatia gave Ospreys a deserved 16-12 victory after an enthralling local derby with Cardiff Blues which kept a sell-out crowd on tenterhooks despite the freezing conditions.
The visitors, although struggling at the lineout, carried the greater firepower and did just about enough to complete a Magners League double over their big rivals despite trailing for much of the game.
Inevitably, there was little festive spirit about the opening exchanges with both sides hurling themselves into the physical encounters and a string of penalties resulting.
Blues full-back Ben Blair landed the first after just two minutes, Ospreys responding through fly-half Dan Biggar, and both players missed further kicks before Blair restored his side’s lead.
A rampaging run by centre Sonny Parker threatened the first try for the Ospreys, but the move broke down when flanker Marty Holah opted for a grubber kick in the home 22 rather than keeping the ball in hand.
The visitors wasted a further opportunity when 19-year-old Biggar slung out a wild pass. Gavin Henson, playing at full-back, did well to retrieve it, but was isolated and conceded a penalty.
Young Biggar played a key role when the Ospreys finally crossed the line just after the half-hour. His agility and sleight of hand kept the ball alive before Tommy Bowe fed Lee Byrne and the Wales No 15, in a rare outing on the wing, stepped inside flanker Maama Molitika to touch down.
The Blues’ own prodigy, 20-year-old Leigh Halfpenny, on for the injured Blair, raced through the visitors’ defence on a 50-yard gallop but lost his footing just short of the try line. A drop goal by Nicky Robinson ensured his good work did not go totally unrewarded and gave the home side a narrow half-time lead.
Both sides missed early penalties in the second period before the Ospreys threw down the gauntlet by bringing on Wales fly-half James Hock to replace Biggar.
It was the Blues who scored next, however, after a remarkable 60-yard break by Tom James had been ended illegally by Byrne, who received a yellow card while Robinson slotted over the penalty.
A long-range kick by Hock kept the Ospreys in touch and it needed two despairing tackles by Halfpenny to save the day as the visitors threw themselves into the search for a winning score.
Their sustained pressure was rewarded with barely five minutes left, a superb long pass from Hock finding Tiatia on the left to dive over.
Despite all their last-ditch efforts, the Blues were unable to respond and the Ospreys underlined their status as the best team in Wales.
