Professional Ospreys secure comfortable bonus‑point win in Georgia
The Ospreys overcame a potential Challenge Cup upset with a decisive 39‑14 victory over Black Lion at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, earning a bonus point in the process. Mark Jones’ side crossed the try line seven times, while the hosts managed only two.
The Welsh team surged ahead to a 22‑7 halftime lead after tries from back‑row trio Gwilym Evans, Morgan Morse and Huw Sutton, complemented by a score from winger Luke Morgan. In the second half, Ospreys added further points through Morgan’s second try, hooker Lewis Lloyd, and prop Kian Hire, all under ideal conditions for an attacking style of play.
Black Lion, who had previously surprised Scarlets and French clubs Vannes and Montauban and gave eventual winners Montpellier a tough contest in the 2025‑26 season, never truly threatened the Ospreys. Their only try came from replacement back‑row forward Otar Giorgadze, who finished off a driving line‑out in the closing minutes.
The Ospreys’ early dominance was evident within the first 12 minutes, with Evans scoring from a well‑executed line‑out and Morse finishing a five‑metre scrum move. Black Lion responded in the 20th minute when scrum‑half Giorgi Spanderashvili broke through a series of tackles to score, but Sutton’s close‑range effort restored Welsh control.
Fly‑half Lawson Creighton struggled with his kicking, yet the half‑time score remained comfortable at 22‑7 after a missed line‑out allowed Morgan to finish an offload from Lalakai Foketi. In the second half, the Ospreys focused on protecting their bonus point, adding more tries while limiting Black Lion’s impact to a strong scrum.
Morgan’s second try came shortly after the restart, followed by a try set up by Reuben Morgan‑Williams’ pass to Lloyd on the opposite flank. Replacement prop Hire scored from a yard out after centre Owen Watkin’s line‑break was halted by a forced error from Lloyd. A potential try by Harri Wilde was ruled out for off‑side by the TMO.
The Ospreys will return to Swansea for two home fixtures after a season that began with away games in Durban, Johannesburg, Newport and Tbilisi. Their revamped St Helen’s stadium will host United Rugby Championship derbies against Dragons and Cardiff before the November international break. Upcoming matches include a December clash with Harlequins and January fixtures against Toulon and Vannes.
Ospreys player of the match Gwilym Evans reflected on the performance: “We had to start fast because we knew 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 and continued that. We can be happy with the performance.”
Black Lion line‑up: Tsirekidze; A Tabutsadze, L Tabatadze, Akhvlediani, R Makhatadze; Babunashvili, Spenderashvili; Abdushelishvili, Kvatadze, Khatiashvili, Babunashvili (capt), Curry, Narsia, Tsikhistavi, Leavasa. Replacements: Jincharadze, Mamaiashvili, Chkhartishvili, Chachanidze, Mamamtavrishvili, Giorgadze, Dzodzuashvili, Metreveli.
Ospreys line‑up: Edwards, Morgan, Watkin (capt), Foketi, Hopkins; Creighton, Morgan‑Williams; S Thomas, Lloyd, Warren, L Jones, Smith, Sutton, Evans, Morse. Replacements: Daniel, C Jones, Hire, Roberts, Morris, L Davies, Wilde, Boshoff.
Referee: Benoit Rousselet (France) with assistants Remi Aiguebonne and Thomas Chereque (France) and TMO Herve Lasausa Lespy Labaylett (France).