Ospreys 19-24 Leinster: Welsh side fall agonisingly short in bid to topple league leaders

The Ospreys fell short in inflicting a first league defeat of the season on Leinster as two quickfire tries denied them an impressive victory.

Toby Booth's side had led 16-10 with 15 minutes to go, with the unerring boot of Cai Evans and Keelan Giles' try the reward for the platform that a huge effort in the scrum and the tireless tackling of Kieran Williams among others had laid.

But, having won 11 from 11 before this in the United Rugby Championship, Leo Cullen's machine found a way to turn it around when it mattered.

Not that they weren't given a scare, with the Ospreys threatening right to the death on their way to a losing bonus point.

The Ospreys had taken an 10-0 lead in the first quarter, with Evans' first penalty opening the scores before a quick penalty from Morgan Morris saw Reuben Morgan-Williams break away to set up Giles' try.

The league leaders forged back before half-time, with Harry Byrne's penalty getting them on the board and hooker Dan Sheehan's try drawing them level at the break.

However, the strength of the Ospreys scrum, which remained dominant even when the front-rows were changed, helped them work back into a winning position in the second-half.

Two more penalties from Evans moved them ahead, but quickfire tries from Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O'Brien turned the match on its head heading into the final 10 minutes.

Evans closed the deficit to put the Ospreys in losing bonus point range, but they couldn't find that final score to get over the line.

Ospreys: Cai Evans; Mat Protheroe, Michael Collins, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Rhys Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Ethan Roots, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Scott