Saracens 35-20 Ospreys: Valiant Welsh side bow out of Champions Cup as hosts ultimately prove too strong

Rewind to the start of the season and the feeling was that if the Ospreys were to reach the Heineken Champions Cup knockout stage, the region’s Minor Miracles Department might have to work overtime.

Fair play to all concerned, for Toby Booth’s team somehow managed to prosper in matches against French champions Montpellier and English title holders Leicester.

Their reward? A trip to Barnet to face Saracens in the last 16.

Gee, thanks.

Despite a strong effort, the story ended there, with their English hosts toughing it out to win a fiercely fought contest at the StoneX Stadium.

The final scoreline doesn’t tell the complete story.

Indeed, a 15-point defeat mocked the courage of the Welsh side, who led 14-3 in the first half and 20-13 well into the third quarter. For them, the likes of Ethan Roots, Morgan Morris, Nicky Smith, around the field, and Keiran Williams were immense figures, with Williams setting up a try for Michael Collins and scoring one himself.

But Saracens could be buried 12ft under in a padlocked coffin and the thinking might be that they’d still somehow find a way to continue the argument.

They never, ever go away, and they didn’t here, with Ben Earl and Mako Vunipola outstanding for them, along with Max Malins.

There were two tries for Malins and one each for Duncan Taylor and Tom Woolstencroft.

Ospreys weren’t helped by the officiating, with a series of borderline calls going the way of the home side, but they also lost their captain Justin Tipuric to injury just before half-time and it takes a lot to fill the gap when the multi-skilled openside isn’t on the pitch.

There were also mistakes that undid the Welsh side, never more clearly illustrated than when Saracens scored their third try, when the visitors