Ospreys ease to first victory of the season as bonus point goes begging

The Ospreys eased to a first win of the season, beating Zebre 24-0 in their first match of the season at their temporary home in Bridgend.

Having lost both of their matches in South Africa to open their United Rugby Championship campaign, Mark Jones' side kicked off their season at the Brewery Field with a one-sided win over the Italian outfit - with the result never really looking in doubt.

Tries from Phil Cokanasiga, Morgan Morse and James Ratti were enough to see off Zebre, who had come into this one having won their opening two fixtures, but the Ospreys will have been disappointed to not pick up a four-try bonus point after letting a number of gilt-edged chances go begging.

Despite being on top for much of the first-half, the Ospreys' two scores happened within a few minutes of each other.

Centre Cokanasiga opened the scoring after 15 minutes, dummying his way to the line after a strong carry from his midfield partner Keiran Williams.

Moments later, the Ospreys produced a fine team try after stealing a Zebre lineout.

Almost the whole team was involved as they worked their way down the field, with Ross Moriarty providing one big carry down the left flank before Williams got his hands free to find Morse with an offload.

As soon as the ball found the back-row's hands, it was clear that the 20-year-old - who was a whisker away from touring with Wales in the summer - had the speed to race away from Zebre's cover for their second.

If there was anything that Jones would have rued at half-time, it would have been that they didn't convert more chances - while the loss of scrum-half Kieran Hardy to a sprained wrist before the break would have concerned new Wales head coach Steve Tandy watching in the stands.

Zebre continued to