KO
Myler gets us underway and a huge hit from Lawes sees possession turned over almost immediately. Saints play right and a penalty comes for an Ospreys offside. Simple three for Myler, just 90 secs on the clock!
SAINTS 3 OSPREYS 0
4mins
More turnover ball from the Saints and North hares after George's kick through. Hassler gathers and looks like he's going to get the ball back well, but there's a knock on in there somewhere and Saints have the first scrum of the afternoon. Penalty Ospreys though as the set-piece falls on Ma'afu's side.
SAINTS 3 OSPREYS 0
7mins
Another Saints turnover - third in the opening 7mins - comes from the Ospreys line out and while North is wrapped up in midfield, this scrum goes against the head for a penalty, too, one Myler nudges into the Ospreys 22. This time it's the visitors who nick an offload though as possession changes hands once more and Biggar lumps upfield well.
SAINTS 3 OSPREYS 0
10mins
Saints attack off, you've guessed it, turnover ball and a really smart kick from Myler has plenty of interest in the way of gold and green chasers. Walker has no choice but to cross his own line and ground the ball - at the cost of a 5m scrum. Haywood has replaced Hartley for some running repairs on the Saints skipper.
SAINTS 3 OSPREYS 0
12mins
BIG scrum from the Saints but they choose to take the ball out wisely, Manoa coasting over unopposed. Great effort from the Saints eight and Myler also converts as Hartley returns. Brief but incredibly valuable contribution from Haywood.
SAINTS 10 OSPREYS 0
18mins
Powerful foray from North puts Saints on the front foot but Ma'afu is a little too eager to clear the ruck out and gives away a soft penalty, going in at the side. Biggar into a slight breeze nudges it over from 40m with ease.
SAINTS 10 OSPREYS 3
21mins
Another scrum goes down after Myler's restart goes out on the full and this time, from inside his own half, Biggar strikes it even better. Fine kicking from the Welshman and six points the Saints will be frustrated at giving away.
SAINTS 10 OSPREYS 6
23mins
Dangerous, offloading counter from Ospreys comes to an end with a knock on. More turnover ball created the break though, Tipuric scavenging as he does so well. First scrum pops up and after another go, Saints get the nod for a penalty on Alex Waller's side, against Adam Jones.
SAINTS 10 OSPREYS 6
26mins
Slick line out ball and some textbook ruck clearing from Wood has the Saints powering forward. Overlap is ready and waiting and Lawes to Dowson to Day capitalises on it, the second row crashing into the South-East corner. Clinical attacking from the hosts and a fine conversion from wide by Myler for good measure.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
30mins
Great clearing up by Foden, who initially slips faced by a two-on-one, but Ospreys take the line out quickly and spread right for the end result of a penalty. Biggar puts his side within 13m of the Saints line.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
33mins
Good kick in behind from Bishop pegs the Saints onto their own 5m line but Hartley goes long to Wood at the line out and Myler clears solidly. Good cleaning up work from the home side and a penalty is their reward as Hartley wraps up man and ball.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
37mins
Booming kick from Biggar but the ball was taken back into the Welsh side's 22 and play comes all the way back for a Saints lineout. Well weighted grubber though from George but the only chaser is Day against Habberfield and it's a 22 dropout for Ospreys.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
39mins
Hartley goes crashing through the Ospreys line but as the hooker lines up a chip and chase he is tagged and looked to have hurt a leg, too. Ospreys play on, sweeping upfield but a kick through doesn't bounce kindly for Fussel and Saints have a lineout.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
40mins
Last attacking chance of the half falls to the men in black as Saints fail to get the ball back from a maul. Aggressive from Saints at the breakdown though and a turnover penalty ends the half - a good one on the whole.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
HT
A half bossed by the Saints - physically and territorially - and tries from Manoa and Day have created a gap between the sides. A couple of cheap penalties have Ospreys on the board though and the Welsh side look more than able of creating some danger on the counter - something the Saints will no doubt be guarded against.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
40mins
Second half underway through Biggar - no changes to either side.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
43mins
Ospreys attacking for the best part of three minutes but the Saints wall is standing strong and when they try to go round the outside, Foden drags his man into touch. Lineout throw isn't straight though and Ospreys are awarded a 5m scrum.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
45mins
Danger is very much still present and Ospreys are battering the Saints line. Biggar crashes under the posts, referee Rolland has a look with the TMO and the try is awarded. Ospreys' fly half converts his own score with ease.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 13
48mins
Saints yet to see any ball in this half and when North goes flying up the left he's well tackled into touch. TMO having a little look for foul play on Elliott but it seems the Ospreys chaser slipped when taking him in the air. Nothing doing. There is however when Burrell is tackled high but Myler can't take advantage from 40-odd metres, his kick going left.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 13
53mins
Saints still ahead but having it far from all their own way in the second half. Wood goes into contact and is held up for an Ospreys scrum and you can sense a tad of frustration is building. Credit must go to Ospreys, however, for their pick up in intensity and tempo.
SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 13
55mins
That just might get the hosts going, Manoa nicking a Habberfield pass and George hacking upfield. North is in hot pursuit and Biggar has no choice but to kick to touch. Clark and van Velze replace Dowson and Manoa and are immediately involved in a huge Saints maul. Doesn't quite go all the way but the ball is recycled and Day feeds Foden for the Saints' - much needed - third try.
SAINTS 22 OSPREYS 13
58mins
Denman replaces Ma'afu too, the Australian receiving warm applause, before Myler converts crisply. Kicking boots are back on for the Saints 10.
SAINTS 24 OSPREYS 13
62mins
Two good scrums from Ospreys, one to nick the put in and the next to win a penalty. Biggar senses a chance to cut the gap to eight and duly does. Impressive ball-striking from the Wales fly half.
SAINTS 24 OSPREYS 16
66mins
Brilliant weaving work from Elliott and Myler's show and go precedes a cheeky offload from the fly half. Hartley finds Lawes outside him but Ospreys just about scramble to bring the big man down and Lawes knocks on. Good stuff from the Saints there though.
SAINTS 24 OSPREYS 16
68mins
More slick handling - this time from the Saints forwards and Lawes scrambles to protect the ball well on the ground too. Priceless work for a penalty and Myler capitalises adding three to the lead.
SAINTS 27 OSPREYS 16
74mins
This game isn't dead yet and the Saints will be keen to get the next score with six left on the clock. Ospreys with the ball though and looking to give themselves chance of at least a losing bonus on the road. Saints penalty though as they hold on.
SAINTS 27 OSPREYS 16
77mins
Haywood on for Hartley after a massive effort from the Saints skipper. Lively contribution from Elliott too today and he is replaced by Ken. A Saints pass bobbles loose and for a moment, Ospreys look like sweeping clear, but Tipuric spills and can't hide his frustration.
SAINTS 27 OSPREYS 16
78mins
Man of the match is Courtney Lawes - a second in three games for the second row. Also a biggest crowd of the season, 13,182 at the Gardens.
SAINTS 27 OSPREYS 16
FT
Ken and North so close to combining for the bonus try but as Biggar kills the attack cynically, Saints get one last chance for the fifth point with a penalty to the corner. Clark gathers Haywood's throw but as van Velze smashes his way close to the line, he's wrapped up for a penalty. Ospreys play briefly looking for a losing bonus try but there's nothing doing.
SAINTS 27 OSPREYS 16
FT
Good enough from the Saints, three tries providing a much needed win to open their account in the Heineken Cup. A much tougher second half as Ospreys lifted their game but with Foden adding to Manoa and Day's efforts before the break, it's a comfortable four points that leave Saints in decent shape heading back into the Premiership and Saracens. See you there!
SAINTS 27 OSPREYS 16
TIMELINE
13mins SAINTS Try Manoa Con Myler 10-0
18mins OSPREYS Pen Biggar 10-3
21mins OSPREYS Pen Biggar 10-6
26mins SAINTS Try Day 17-6
HALF-TIME SAINTS 17 OSPREYS 6
50mins SAINTS Miss pen Myler
55mins SAINTS Try Foden Con Myler 24-13
63mins OSPREYS Pen Biggar 24-16
70mins SAINTS Pen Myler 27-16
FULL-TIME SAINTS OSPREYS
SAINTS - Foden; Elliott, George, Burrell, North; Myler, Dickson; Alex, Hartley (capt), Ma'afu, Lawes, Day, Dowson, Wood, Manoa
Reps - Haywood, Ethan, Denman, van Velze, Clark, Fotuali'i, Wilson, Ken
OSPREYS - Fussell; Hassler, Bishop, Beck, Walker; Biggar, Habberfield; Bevington, Hibbard, A Jones, AW Jones (capt), King, R Jones, Tipuric, Bearman
Reps - Baldwin, D Jones, Jarvis, Ardon, Allen, Lewis, Tebaldi, Morgan
HEINEKEN MAN OF THE MATCH: Courtney Lawes
REFEREE: Alain Rolland
ATT: 13,182
