Ospreys smash Solly's Edinburgh

Ospreys ran rampant with nine tries as they put 62 points past Edinburgh to run out comfortable 62-13 victors and remain unbeaten in the Pro12.


Edinburgh managed to stay in touch during the first half but they were blown away by a ruthless second-half performance from the Welsh side.


Defensive pressure proved to be the key for Steve Tandy's side and a brutal final 20 minutes compounded a bad day at the office for South African coach, Alan Solomons' troops.


Ospreys got off to a flying start with Rhys Webb running over in the first minute which Dan Biggar duly converting for a 7-0 lead.


Edinburgh got on the board with a penalty shortly after and it would have been ten for Ospreys had the TMO not ruled out a second try moments later.


But it mattered little as Rhys Webb scored his second of the game after ten minutes and Biggar made it two from two with a successful conversion.


And, after a series of scrappy possessions, Ospreys added to their lead when Dan Baker powered over the line with six minutes left in the half and Biggar once again tagged on the extra points.


Edinburgh were down but not out and Hamish Watson went over after covering the length of the pitch to pick up Sep Visser's pass when the Dutch player broke away but was tackled just before the line by Dan Evans.


Biggar's penalty just before the break gave Ospreys extra breathing room but Edinburgh responded with a penalty of their own immediately after the interval through Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.


But Edinburgh's defence were looking exposed on the right-hand side and Jeff Hassler took full advantage to burst through.


And after Hassler was tackled by Hidalgo-Clyne, Ospreys worked the ball to Biggar who dotted down before adding another conversion.


Despite being denied a try of his own, Hassler showed incredible stamina to capitalise on a loose Edinburgh pass moments later and sprint down the right to make it 36-12 with Biggar's conversion.


Justin Tipuric was shown a yellow card on 55 minutes as Edinburgh drove to the line but the Scots weren't given a penalty try and struggled to capitalise on the extra man.


They were eventually awarded a penalty and took a quick tap but Ospreys stayed strong and forced a turnover.


Jonathan Spratt compounded Edinburgh's misery in the 60th minute when the TMO was unable to ascertain whether a definite forward pass had been made in the build-up to his score.


Edinburgh's defence was rocked and two missed tackles on 69 minutes allowed Hanno Dirksen to ease his way through and cross over to make it 48-13 to the home side.


It got continually worse for Edinburgh who simply couldn't handle the pressure exerted by the Ospreys defence and the Welsh side stole the ball, allowing Tom Grabham to send them beyond the 50-point mark before Sam Davies converted.


It was all too easy for Ospreys and a handoff from big man Tyler Ardron secured their ninth try of the evening with just three minutes remaining and made sure Tandy's side finished the day top of the league.


The scorers:


For Ospreys:

Tries: Webb 2, Baker, Biggar, Hassler, Spratt, Dirksen, Grabham, Ardron

Cons: Biggar 4, Davies 3

Pen: Biggar


For Edinburgh:

Try: Watson

Con: Heathcote

Pens: Heathcote 2


Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Hanno Dirksen, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 James King, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones (captain), 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith.

Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Tyler Ardron, 20 Morgan Allen, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Tom Grabham.


Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Nick McLennan, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Mike Coman (captain), 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 3 WP Nel, 2 James Hilterbrand, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 John Andress, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Sam Beard, 23 Greig Tonks.


Referee: Dudley Phillips