By Iestyn Thomas
Benetton picked up their first ever win in Swansea after a last-gasp conversion attempt from Ospreys’ Jack Walsh hit the post.
A performance riddled with errors from Toby Booth’s side means any late surge into the URC top eight now looks unlikely.
Tries from Joaquin Riera and Marcus Watson were enough as Benetton continue to push on for a play-off place.
Luke Morgan, Sam Parry and Reuben Morgan-Williams crossed for the hosts, but it wasn’t enough for victory.
The Ospreys got the first points with winger Morgan’s try from the base of a rolling maul as Booth’s men showed good hands to put the winger over to score.
Superb skill from blindside flanker Giovanni Petinelli as he kicked a bouncing ball down the field before regathering and offloading to Jaoquin Reira helped the outside-centre to claim the Italians’ first score.
The away side’s fly-half Umaga added the conversion before his opposite man Stephen Myler slotted a penalty as the Ospreys reclaimed the lead after 26 minutes.
Reporting on #OSPvBEN in the URC.
Both sides hunting for a top 8 spot despite multiple internationals missing.
KO at 5:15, match report and match reactions to come. pic.twitter.com/uNfmGtqeZz
— Iestyn Rhys Thomas (@Iestyn_thomas21) March 4, 2023
An overthrow from Parry allowed Benetton some possession in the hosts’ 22, but a turnover from second row Rhys Davies relieved some pressure for the home team.
Umaga kicked his first penalty of the afternoon before adding his second to give Benetton a 13-8 lead at the break.
The outside-half extended his side’s lead with a third penalty in the 50th minute before Ospreys replacement back rower Harri Deaves was shown a yellow card for a breakdown infringement.
Benetton picked up their second try of the afternoon with Rhyno Smith creating a simple two-v-one to give winger Marcus Watson a try in the corner.
Trailing 21-8, the Ospreys needed a response with the game heading into the final quarter.
With six minutes left, hooker Parry crossed for a second try from a rolling maul and with replacement Walsh adding a conversion, to make it a six-point game.
Ospreys pilled on the pressure in the final stages and a cross-field kick from Walsh bounced kindly for scrum-half Morgan-Williams, before the conversion from Walsh struck the post.
The Ospreys remain 13th in the URC with only three games remaining as Benetton move into eighth spot.