United Rugby Championship

Ospreys (0) 0

Cardiff (19) 26

Tries: Bowen 2, Adams, Howe Cons: Evans 2, Sheedy

Cardiff lifted themselves back into the top half of the United Rugby Championship (URC) by defeating Ospreys 26-0 in a scrappy Welsh derby at St Helen’s.

Two tries from wing Tom Bowen and further scores from Josh Adams and hooker Tom Howe sealed the away bonus-point success against a lacklustre home side in Swansea.

Ospreys previously failed to score in a 23-0 defeat against Munster in October 2024.

Cardiff centre Steffan Emanuel was a creative influence and should prove an option for Wales if they pick up any midfield injuries next month.

His contribution was a shining light in a dour derby played in front of a 5,592 sell-out, with the occasion marred by the continued whistle of referee Ben Breakspear.

It was the second game at the revamped St Helen’s ground after the opening Ospreys victory against Dragons.

The URC takes a break for five weeks, with the Nations Championship staged in November. Cardiff finish the first league block in seventh and Ospreys in ninth.

While there has been renewed talk of an Anglo-Welsh league this week, the URC match schedulers should reflect on their fixture choices with a significant Welsh derby staged a week before an international campaign and shorn of the Wales stars.

Adams was the only Welsh region-based member of Steve Tandy’s squad to be sent out for game time prior to the Nations Championship.

Cardiff were without their six other Wales squad members, including Rhys Barratt, hooker Liam Belcher, lock Teddy Williams and back-row trio Alex Mann, James Botham and Taine Basham.

Full-back Tom Rogers, fly-half Dan Edwards, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams and loose-head prop Gareth Thomas sat out for Ospreys.

With fly-half Lawson Creighton a late withdrawal because of a groin injury, Harri Wilde, who was on loan at Ospreys from Cardiff, started against his parent club. Wilde formed a third-choice half-back partnership with Luke Davies.

Cardiff enjoyed all the early pressure and were rewarded with a walk in for wing Bowen.

Ospreys appeared to have responded when prop Steffan Thomas was driven over, but after the try was initially given, the television match official (TMO) disallowed it after it was deemed that Cardiff scrum-half Johan Mulder had prevented the grounding.

Cardiff weathered the Ospreys attack and produced a well-worked scrum set-piece move which saw Bowen sprint over for his second.

Emanuel almost created a third try with a fine break and kick, but the Ospreys defence scrambled back and held firm.

Following a Dan Thomas turnover penalty, Emanuel turned creator with his deft kick being latched onto by Adams.

Ospreys suffered another blow when flanker Ross Moriarty suffered a nasty head injury and was replaced by Morgan Morse.

Ospreys started the second half with scrummaging superiority, with Cardiff replacing props Keiron Assiratti and Danny Southworth with international duo Scott Sio and Javan Sebastian.

Adams received treatment for a knee injury but was able to continue before Ospreys co-captain Sam Parry was held up over the Cardiff line.

Cardiff were warned for persistent penalties, and the frustrations of the Ospreys players with how the officials were interpreting the breakdown could be heard.

Cardiff repelled the Ospreys’ defence with teenage replacement hooker Howe winning a crucial turnover penalty.

Howe gained his reward as Cardiff demonstrated a clinical approach, with the 18-year-old securing the bonus-point try after being driven over.

It was the only score as Emanuel denied Keelan Giles in the dying seconds with a wonderful covering tackle.

The woeful second half was short on quality, but Cardiff’s players, coaches and supporters will not care as they secured maximum points against an Ospreys side that looked devoid of attacking ideas.

Ospreys: Hopkins; Morgan, Watkin (co-capt), K Williams, Giles; Wilde, L Davies; S Thomas, Parry (co-capt), Botha, Ratti, Smith, Wright, Moriarty, M Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, C Jones, Warren, Sutton, Morse, H Williams, S Jac Jones, Boshoff.

Cardiff: Young; Adams, Malan, Emanuel, Bowen; J Evans, Mulder; Southworth, Hughes, Assiratti, McNally (capt), Thornton, Paea, Thomas, Lawrence.

Replacements: Howe, Sio, Sebastian, Manz, de la Rua, A Davies, Sheedy, Darwin-Lewis.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)

Assistant referees: Carwyn Sion & Marc Caudle (Wales)

TMO: Jenny Davies (Wales).