16-man Ospreys edge Tigers to reach last eight

PARIS (AFP) - Welsh side Ospreys secured their third successive European Cup quarter-finals spot on Saturday as they beat two-time champions Leicester Tigers 17-12 in a thrilling clash.

The one try of the match came from Ospreys' Irish winger Tommy Bowe, who touched down for his seventh try of the pool phase to become just the second player after Argentine Felipe Contepomi to score tries in every first stage match of the tournament.

However, their joy was tempered as the losers made a protest about Ospreys at one point having 16 men on the pitch when Lee Byrne returned from a blood binning but his replacement Sonny Parker stayed on the pitch leading to referee Alan Lewis admonishing the unfortunate Ospreys official responsible.

It is understood tournament rules mean the result of the match cannot be affected.

England were fined a five-figure sum during the 2003 World Cup when Dan Luger briefly appeared as a 16th player during their group victory over Samoa in Melbourne.

For the moment Ospreys, winning their 13th successive home match in the competition, are guaranteed to take one of the two best runners-up spots.

London Irish or Northampton will take the other one, after French side Clermont topped their pool by crushing Italian whipping boys Viadana 59-20.

London Irish host titleholders Leinster later on Saturday at Twickenham, with the English side needing to win to even have a chance of reaching the last eight.

Clermont and Ospreys joined three-time winners Toulouse, Biarritz and two-time champions Munster in the last eight, the Irish province having ensured a remarkable 12th successive appearance in the quarter-finals with a 12-9 win over 2000 champions Northampton on Friday.

Stade Francais ensured there would be four French sides in the last eight for the first time since the 1998/99 season later on Saturday when they topped Pool Four, despite losing 9-7 to Edinburgh.

Closest rivals Ulster recorded their first ever win on English territory with a 28-10 victory over Bath but it will be of little consolation to the 1999 champions.

Clermont have been in fine form of late topping their championship and now winning their pool.

"We are delighted for the club, for the squad and for the supporters," said Clermont's inspirational captain Aurelien Rougerie.

"We are satisfied, but it is vital we remain humble and do not get above ourselves."

Ospreys and Leicester traded blows and points from the opening quarter in an enthralling game.

Tigers took the lead three times through two penalties by Toby Flood and a superb drop goal by Irish centre Jeremy Staunton, only for Ospreys' Welsh international fly-half Dan Biggar to level on all three occasions with successful penalties.

The hosts grabbed what was to prove a crucial try, which originally stemmed from a rampaging run by former All Black great Jerry Collins, with James Hook delivering a beautifully weighted grubber kick that bounced up perfectly for Bowe, who touched down.

Ospreys came out all fired up in the second half but Biggar was unsuccessful first with a penalty and then a drop goal; both from distance but in front of the posts.

It was the Tigers who put points on the board when Flood landed his third penalty to leave the Ospreys 14-12 to the good.

The Welsh side, though, made it 17-12 in the 56th minute when Biggar slotted over a penalty.

The Tigers poured on the pressure in search of the try they needed to get the win but sterling defence by the hosts denied them time and again.

The visitors' last opening culminated in experienced All Black Aaron Mauger knocking on just five metres from the try-line as Ospreys held out for a superb victory.

Man of the match Ospreys flanker Marty Holah said that the difference from previous matches was their tactical kicking, and he believed that they could reach the semi-finals for the first time.

"We can be proud of ourselves today (Saturday)," said Holah.

"But we have to back this performance up in the quarter-finals. However, I have to say we do possess huge self-belief to go out and do it - there is no reason we can't do it."