Ospreys turn up the heat.

Ospreys 41-10 Benneton Rugby Treviso 31/3/12

Liberty Stadium
Referee: Alain Roland
Assistants: Tim Hayes, Ian Davies
TMO: Tony Rowland

Man of the match: Adam Jones
My choice: Ryan Jones

Attendance: 7514

They were 3 foot tall and there was 30 of them, curly wigs and stubble. 4 large men tried their best to keep them under control. They insisted on two orderly files, only to see the lines transform into spontaneous 'conga'. Abercraf under 8's had arrived at the Liberty. 

Adam Jones is from Abercraf. This was his testimonial night. The boys idolise him and were wound like corkscrews. 

They reflected the occasion. Over seven and a half thousand attendees had basked in the afterglow of a Grand Slam, and it had been a warm dry week. There was a buzz in the stadium.

The players were warming up with a purpose. Ryan Jones was cranking it up. 

Adam Jones himself however took a tumble. He required on field physiotherapy and had his ankle heavily strapped. 

From the kick off, the Ospreys hit the ground running. Dirksen and Williams both probing deep into Italian territory out wide. Biggar soon started a faultless place kicking display with his first penalty

Treviso were not there for the festivities however. The Ospreys would have to earn every point. Burton evened with a penalty of his own.

The Ospreys were creating chances and a sublime catch from his own kick and flat pass from Biggar put Dirksen clear. He fed the excellent Beck inside for the match's first try. Biggar converted and shortly added a penalty.

Then came the moment of the match. The Ospreys were on their opponents 22. The ball was slow. Treviso fanned out. Adam Jones picked up and drove through the ruck. The defender fell away and he was clear and sprinting to the line. He only had Burton to beat and Paul James on his shoulder. He produced a textbook draw and give. However Burton sold himself on tackling James. If Adam had thrown the dummy he'd have been under the posts (and the Liberty would have errupted) but James smashed over and was awarded the try by the TMO.

20-3 half time. 

The Ospreys had tasted blood. Shane Williams made an excellent break, chip and chase from a Ryan Jones steal in their own half. Shane caught his opponent for Biggar to turn him over. Bishop put Beck through for his second try, converted by Biggar.

If Treviso were not to be blown away they had to score next. 

Some generous refereeing from Roland at the tackle area (not forcing the tackler to roll away) saw Treviso stemming the tide. Some more enterprise from the Ospreys resulted in a turn over on their 22. An excellent break on the counter by Edoardo Gori gained 60 yards with the Ospreys in disarray. Ludovico Nitoglia then scythed off his wing and through on the angle. A brave last ditch effort by Shane Williams was not enough to keep them out. Di Bernado added the conversion. 

The Ospreys fans were getting frustrated, but the players stuck at it. A series of free kicks at the scrum deep in their territory for Treviso was turned into a penalty for the Ospreys. They worked up field and Shane Williams saw a crucial pass to Dirksen knocked on by Benvenuti, who saw yellow. 

The Ospreys were 5 yards out, called a scrum and drove over for Bearman to claim the try that secured their first try bonus point of the season.

The Liberty was bouncing. Not even Roland and his determination to call back any quick tap or throw in could not stop the Ospreys now. 

They went close with another push over only for Bearman to lose the ball at the fateful moment.

Treviso were still attacking. Industrious captain Alun Wyn Jones pinched the ball and Webb fed Morgan (on for Biggar) who fed Beck who fed Tom Isaacs who fed Shane Williams. He broke beautifully and fed Isaacs on his shoulder who beat his man and sped into the corner. A truly excellent counter attacking try of the old school and a sublime piece of support play and precise passing. 

It ended 41-10 to the Ospreys. 

The Rabo Direct Pro12 is taking a week off before the battle for the play off places recommences. With losses for Munster and the Scarlets, the Ospreys bonus point win is turning up the heat at the top of the table.

Ospreys: Richard Fussell; Hanno Dirksen, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Kahn Fotuali'i; Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Joe Bearman, Justin Tipuric.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Ryan Bevington, Aaron Jarvis, James King, Tom Smith, Rhys Webb, Matthew Morgan, Tom Isaacs.

Treviso: Kristopher Burton; Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Iannone, Alberto Sgarbi, Ludovico Nitoglia; Alberto Di Bernardo, Edoardo Gori; Michele Rizzo, Enrico Ceccato, Lorenzo Cittadini, Antonio Pavanello (capt), Corniel Van Zyl, Francesco Minto, Alessandro Zanni, Manoa Vosawai

Replacements: Franco Sbaraglini, Matteo Muccignat, Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet, Valerio Bernabò, Gonzalo Padrò, Marco Filippucci, Fabio Semenzato, Luke McLean.