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          United Rugby Championship 2018
          OspreysOspreysOSP
          26
          17/02FT
          12
          Southern KingsSouthern KingsSTHK
          • Tom Habberfield(13')
          • Jeff Hassler(79')
          • Penalty Try(66', 77')
          • Sam Davies(13')
          • Michael Makase(21')
          • Mike Willemse(32')
          • Martin du Toit(22')
          • SummarySummary
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          • TableTable

          Ospreys leave it late before fending off Southern Kings

          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Feb 17, 2018, 11:48 PM
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          Struggling Ospreys made heavy weather of beating Southern Kings in the Guinness PRO14.

          Eventually the bonus-point win came as three tries in the final 14 minutes secured a 26-12 victory.

          Ospreys' tries came from scrum-half Tom Habberfield, two penalty tries and wing Jeff Hassler. Sam Davies kicked a conversion. Kings' tries came from Michael Makase and captain Michael Willemse with Martin Du Toit kicking a conversion.

          Ospreys were helped by Kings being reduced to 13 men at one point in the second half with Johan Smith and Eital Bredenkamp in the sin bin.

          Wales squad members Justin Tipuric, Owen Watkin and Adam Beard started for the Ospreys with Nicky Smith named among the replacements.

          Southern Kings, who made only one change from the team beaten 59-10 in Ulster with left wing Anthony Volmink replaced by Makase, had lost all their last 14 games by an average margin of 25 points.

          And the South Africans found themselves under pressure early on as they conceded six penalties within the first 11 minutes. But Ospreys, who have struggled to get across the whitewash all season, failed to breach the Southern Kings line.

          The Ospreys grabbed their first try after 12 minutes with skipper Habberfield darting over from a scrum five metres out and Davies adding the conversion.

          The Kings responded by going through 14 phases before earning a penalty but Masixole Banda missed the penalty goal attempt.

          The visitors were level after 21 minutes when wing Makase went over down the left after good work from Andisa Ntsila, who broke through a tackle, and Luzuko Vulindlu. Du Toit converted to make it 7-7.

          The Kings went into the lead 10 minutes later following a catch and drive that saw captain Willemse crash over. This time Du Toit failed with the conversion.

          Ospreys went through 13 phases in the final minute of the half but they had to settle for the Kings holding a 12-7 interval lead.

          With a lack of creativity, the first 20 minutes of the second half were frustrating for the Ospreys as they failed to change the scoreboard.

          Replacement prop Nicky Smith got across the line after 61 minutes but fell on his back and could not get the ball down.

          After a series of scrum penalties, referee David Wilkinson lost his patience and yellow-carded replacement prop Smith.

          Ospreys, aided by the injection of Dmitri Arhip in the front row, then dismantled a shorthanded Kings scrum with Wilkinson awarding the home side a penalty try to see them lead 14-12 after 66 minutes.

          Two minutes later Kings were down to 13 men with Bredenkamp sent to the bin for a ruck offence before the TMO disallowed a try after Hanno Dirksen was adjudged to have made a double movement attempting to score in the left corner.

          With three minutes remaining Ospreys were awarded their second penalty try, and they secured the bonus point when Hassler crossed moments later. Davies missed the conversion.

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          Standings

          United Rugby Championship
          RTeamGPPDP
          1STO16+16656
          2GLA16+11455
          3LIO16+9053
          4LEI16+6753
          5MUN16+3251
          6CAR16-250
          7BUL16+9949
          8ULS16+7847
          9CON16+744
          10SHA16-3536
          11OSP16-3135
          12EDI16-6533
          13BEN16-10133
          14DRA16-12225
          15SCA16-9224
          16ZEB16-20515
          Full Table