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Ospreys draw with Stormers in relentless Swansea rain
By PA
A try from Scott Baldwin five minutes from time salvaged a 16-16 draw for the Ospreys against the Stormers in a hard-fought game in the relentless Swansea rain.
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Stephen Myler held his nerve to kick a difficult conversion and give the hosts a deserved share of the points – their second draw of the season following their 23-23 result against the Scarlets on the opening weekend.
Myler also succeeded with three penalties, with Marnie Libbok kicking three penalties and a conversion of Paul de Wet’s try for Stormers.
The Stormers – the United Rugby Championship title-holders – dominated the opening period and took the lead with a penalty from Libbok, but that was the only score of a featureless first quarter.
During that period the Ospreys barely ventured into the opposition half, but the miserable conditions prevented their opponents from capitalising, despite a few powerful bursts from centre Dan du Plessis.
It was therefore left to Libbok to extend their advantage with a superbly struck penalty from inside his own half.
However, the Ospreys seemed to have the edge in the scrum, winning a couple of penalties, with Myler kicking one of them to put the Welsh region on the scoreboard.
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That score buoyed the hosts to produce the best move of the half. Skilful handling sent George North away down the right flank before good ball retention created a try-scoring opportunity, but Keelan Giles could not gather a poor pass from Jac Morgan with the line beckoning.
As a result the Stormers led 6-3 at the interval, but the home side controlled the early stages of the second half and drew level with a second penalty from Myler.
The game badly needed a spark and it came from an excellent move from the South Africans which resulted in the first try.
On half-way, an inside pass from Libbok sent Leolin Zas through a huge gap in the home defence before the wing sent De Wet racing over. Libbok converted to give his side a 13-6 lead going into the final quarter.
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The Ospreys won another scrum penalty, which Myler kicked, but Libbok soon nullified this with his third success.
The game looked up for the hosts, but they conjured up a late rally, with replacement Baldwin finishing off a driving lineout to reward a period of pressure.
