Ospreys hold on to deny Sharks in Bridgend

United Rugby Championship

Ospreys (14) 21

Tries: Edwards, J Morgan, G Phillips Cons: Edwards 3

Sharks (12) 17

Tries: Buthelezi 2, Hooker Con: Smith

Ospreys dealt a major blow to Sharks' United Rugby Championship play-off hopes with a tense victory in Bridgend.

Mark Jones' side leapfrogged the South Africans thanks to a hard-earned three-try win at Electric Brewery Field.

Ospreys led 14-12 at the break thanks to tries by Wales internationals Dan Edwards and inspirational captain Jac Morgan.

Sharks wing Ethan Hooker broke away with the final play of the half to add to flanker Phepsi Buthelezi's effort.

They started the second half strongly yet Ospreys struck next through replacement loose-head prop Garyn Phillips – his first professional try – before his injury meant the hosts played the last quarter with 14 men due to uncontested scrums.

Buthelezi cut the gap, but Sharks could not find a winner and drop below 10th-place Ospreys, with both teams 11 points off the top eight.

Results elsewhere – notably Connacht's shock win at Stormers and Cardiff coming back to beat Scarlets – meant that both sides' chances of the play-offs got slimmer before kick-off.

Given that ninth-place Connacht are still to play sixth-place Munster in the penultimate round, even maximum hauls for the run-in are unlikely to be enough.

Nonetheless, both teams were keen to stay in contention for as long as is possible.

Ospreys opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Edwards chipped over the top and then finished off after passes by backs Iestyn Hopkins, Evardi Boshoff and Dan Kasende.

Sharks made it 7-5 in more direct fashion, kicking a penalty to the corner for flanker Buthelezi to muscle his way over for a fourth try in three games.

Ospreys responded in the same way on the half hour when captain Morgan went over from a driving line-out, Edwards converting from the right touchline for a 14-5 lead.

They went hunting a third try with the final play of the half only to suffer from a big momentum swing when a loose ball led to a Hooker breakaway.

Ospreys restored their nine-point lead through an unlikely source in the 54th minute, replacement prop Phillips dashing under the posts after an interception by the lively Kasende.

However, the loose-head was under pressure in his main job after the introduction of Springboks props Ox Nche and Vincent Koch.

The try scorer limped off after one huge shove against the head and – after a ridiculously long delay and plenty of head-scratching – uncontested scrums meant Ospreys were reduced to 14 men.

Buthelezi got his second with 12 minutes to go from a driving line-out to make it 21-17, but Sharks were unable to steal the spoils.

Ospreys now turn their attention to a derby at play-off hopefuls Cardiff on Friday night, with their owners Y11 Sports & Media still officially in discussions to buy the Arms Park club from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Ospreys: Hopkins; L Morgan, Bishoff, Watkin, Kasende; Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Parry, Botha, Sutton, R Smith, Ratti, J Morgan (capt), Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, Phillips, Warren, Moriarty, Deaves, Morgan-Williams, P Cokanasiga, Walsh.

Sharks: Siyaya; E van der Merwe, Malan, Esterhuizen (capt), Hooker; J Smith, Jaden Hendrikse; Ganyane, Mbatha, Jacobs, Jenkins, van Heerden, Buthelezi, V Tshituka, M Tshituka.

Replacements: Swart, Nche, Koch, Rahl, Hatton, Davids, Masuku, Mapimpi.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Marcus Caudle (WRU).

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).