The Ospreys just absolutely demolished Black Lion in Georgia, racking up 39 points to Black Lion’s 14 and successfully grabbing a bonus-point win in the Challenge Cup. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. These guys were on the road, played smart, and made sure Black Lion’s history of giant-killing was a non-factor.
Ospreys Strikers Silence the Crowd Early in Tbilisi
Mark Jones’ squad came out firing at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, scoring seven tries and holding their hosts to only two. Talk about putting in work! They were up 22-7 by halftime, and honestly, Black Lion never even came close to threatening them. You know Black Lion, right? The team that upset Scarlets, Vannes, and Montauban, and even gave Montpellier a run for their money last season. Yeah, *those* guys. The Ospreys just shut them down.
The early attack was led by the back row, with Gwilym Evans crossing from a killer line-out move, and then Morgan Morse powering through from a five-meter scrum. Huw Sutton added another close-range effort, and wing Luke Morgan snagged one after a botched line-out fell perfectly from Lalakai Foketi’s offload. Fly-half Lawson Creighton had a bit of a tough time with his kicks, but the lead was still a super comfortable 22-7 at the break. Conditions were perfect for running rugby, and the Ospreys took full advantage.
Second Half Domination and a Critical Road Win
The second half was all about protecting that bonus point and just keeping Black Lion out of the try zone. Luke Morgan wasn’t done, going over acrobatically for his second try of the day right after the restart. Then Lewis Lloyd, the hooker, got in on the action thanks to a fizzed pass from Reuben Morgan-Williams. Kian Hire, the prop, plunged over from a yard out after Owen Watkin’s line-break set it all up. Harri Wilde even had a try chalked off for offside, which shows you how much pressure they were putting on. Black Lion did manage a second try from Otar Giorgadze off a driving line-out, but it was way too late to change anything.
Coach Jones has been rotating the squad big time due to all the travel demands, but you wouldn’t know it from this performance. These guys have been all over the place to start the 2026-27 season, with away games in Durban, Johannesburg, Newport, and now Tbilisi. What a relief it’s gotta be to head back to Swansea!
What’s Next for the Ospreys?
The Ospreys are finally returning home to Swansea for a couple of matches. They’re set to open their revamped St Helen’s home with United Rugby Championship derbies against Dragons and Cardiff before the November international break. That’s gonna be huge for the fans, getting to see them back on home turf after all that travel. Player of the match Gwilym Evans summed it up perfectly, saying, “We had to start fast because we knew that they pride themselves on their set-piece and physicality. We had to match that and wanted to keep the ball in play, moving it about, so we started fast.” Sounds like a team with a plan! After those home games, they’ll host Harlequins in December, and then face French opposition in January, away at Toulon and home against Vannes. Plenty to look forward to!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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