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These are your latest rugby headlines on Sunday, January 18.
Ospreys edged out in Montpellier thriller
Ospreys will be forced onto the road in the Challenge Cup knockout stages after surrendering a dramatic lead in a bruising defeat to Montpellier in Bridgend.
Mark Jones’ side looked on course to secure home advantage in April after a stirring second-half comeback saw them overturn a 21-7 deficit, only for the French heavyweights to reassert their muscle late on and seal a 34-28 victory.
Montpellier had raced clear through two first-half tries from flanker Alex Masibaka – one gifted by an interception – and a score from wing Jules Ducros, but Ospreys roared back into the contest.
Hooker Lewis Lloyd crossed twice, centre Owen Watkin finished a slick move and replacement Ross Moriarty capped an influential cameo as the hosts briefly took control of the match.
However, the visitors’ power proved decisive. Replacement prop Wilfrid Hounkpatin crashed over, Stuart Hogg added his fourth conversion and a late penalty from Leo Coly closed the door on a famous Ospreys fightback.
The defeat means Ospreys finish fourth in their pool, despite a perfect December campaign, and will now face either Benetton or Ulster away in the last 16. Montpellier, who secured a maximum 20 points from the group stages, advance as top seeds and will host Perpignan.
Jones had rolled the dice by making 13 changes from the side beaten by Zebre, with only James Fender and skipper Jack Walsh retaining their places, while Wales captain Dewi Lake was left out with a shoulder issue.
The gamble nearly paid off — but in the end, Montpellier’s depth and physicality told.
Welsh teen tipped for ‘huge future’
Newport head coach Ty Morris says he expects big things to come from some of the Dragons’ young players, having joined the region’s U18s set-up this season.
Morris has come in as a breakdown coach, having already worked to develop several talented Gwent prospects during his time with Newport, and admits that the region has a host of players with “big futures” on its books.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying it, grateful for the opportunity,” said Morris as he spoke about his new role with the Dragons. “I got into coaching many, many years ago for helping players develop and as a head coach you step away from that a bit, so it’s been really good stepping down, looking at the micro stuff and working with all these young talented players.
“The breakdown is something as an ex-backrow forward, it was probably the only thing I was good at,” he added. “Around the breakdown area, something that stuck with me for a long time is definitely the detail, I look at even now at Newport more than ever and to be able to give that knowledge back is good.”
Morris has already called upon a number of Dragons youngsters to turn out for Newport in Super Rygbi Cymru so far this season, with his side now up to third in the table after winning eight of their last nine games.
One of those players experiencing their first taste of men’s rugby is Cerrig Smith, a powerful teenage forward who recently captained Wales U19s against England and France.
Smith, who has also captained Wales at U18s level, is highly rated by his coaches and was included in Richard Whiffin’s training squad for the upcoming U20s Six Nations.
Having worked with him, Morris is confident that the teenager, who can play at lock or in the back row, has a “huge future” ahead of him as he heaped praise on the region’s brightest talents.
“They are fantastic athletes,” he said. “Firstly, you can tell they’ve been coached at a really high standard. Even though they’re first years into senior rugby they’ve picked it up really well and transitioned into the group.
“In particular, Cerrig has a huge future, he’s very detailed in everything he does, a true professional, while Noah Morgan, Joe Salter, Tiehi Chatham, there’s plenty of them and we are working really hard with them, hopefully giving them plenty of opportunities to further their development.
“It’s credit to the region and the academy,” Morris added. “There’s no drop off, in fact these boys are coming in and making us better.”
Lightning top table
Gwalia Lightning moved top of the Celtic Challenge table with a bonus-point 31-17 win over Edinburgh in Ystrad Mynach.
A five-try performance from the Welsh side saw them leapfrog reigning champions Wolfhounds to take top spot, but the Irish outfit could claim it back with victory over Brython Thunder later today.
Ceiron Bell opened the scoring for the visitors after Welsh hooker Molly Reardon was held up over the line, but a quick response from the Lightning saw wings Courtney Greenway and Caitlin Lewis both cross to put their side ahead.
Edinburgh then replied with a try from hooker Aila Ronald, with Lucy MacRae putting them two points ahead with the conversion.
However, it was Lightning who went into the break ahead as lock Alaw Pyrs crashed over under the posts from a tap penalty before the boot of fly-half Carys Hughes made it 17-12 to the hosts.
In the second half, Reardon would not be denied again as she made use of her side’s player advantage to cross the line, before Hannah Ramsey responded for the visitors with their third try of the afternoon.
However, Lightning’s third win of the current campaign was wrapped up with a try from replacement scrum-half Lily Hawkins, with a conversion from Jenny Hesketh making it 31-17.
Ulster hold off Stade Francais fightback
By Press Association Sport Staff
Ulster scored four first-half tries but had to fend off a second-half fightback from Stade Francais to earn a 26-19 victory in the Challenge Cup at the Affidea Stadium.
It took three minutes for the Irish side to take the lead as they worked it from left to right and Nathan Doak found Tom O’Toole who crashed over from close range.
Rob Baloucoune produced a special diving finish to put Ulster 12 to the good before Stuart McCloskey sprinted down the wing to add a third try.
Baloucoune turned creator for a bonus point try after he broke the line and fed Doak who sprinted over the whitewash to give Ulster a 26-0 lead at the break.
However, the French side fought back after the break. Giorgi Melikidze replied seven minutes after the interval and Charles Laloi chopped the deficit to 14 with a try with 25 minutes still left on the clock.
Stade Francais got themselves well back in the contest in the 66th minute when replacement hooker Lucas Peyresblanques picked off the back of a maul to stroll over uncontested but Ulster were able to hang on to top Pool 3 and will have home advantage going into the knockout stage in April.
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