Ospreys misses out on qualification as Clermont Auvergne secure home play-off

Clermont Auvergne 24-7 Ospreys, Stade Marcel-Michelin
Scorecard

Clermont Auvergne secured a home quarter-final berth in the European Champions Cup following a 24-7 win over Ospreys at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Saturday.

The defeat also means Ospreys have dropped out of the contention for the knock-out stage as they managed just 15 points from six games.

Ospreys did well to hold out against a ferocious opening from the home side and were fortunate when TMO Stuart Terheege ruled out a try in the sixth minute for wing Remy Grosso for just creeping over the touchline as he dived in at the left corner.

Adam Beard then did well to get through a driving line-out and thwart what seemed an inevitable march for the try-line by the home pack and the fans had to wait until the 25th minute for the first score. Morgan Parra slotted a conversion and two more penalties as Clermont Auvergne scored 13 unanswered points in the first half.

The Ospreys had just missed out on the chance of their first points on the stroke of half-time when Dan Biggar missed his first kick at goal in the tournament this season from the 10 metre line, but the Welsh outside half was at the heart of the move that got the visitors back into the contest just before the hour mark.

The response from the visitors came finally in the 58th minute when Ashley Beck crossed over while Biggar slotted the conversion to bring down the gap to six points but Parra's third penalty increased their lead to nine points.

Biggar left the field with six minutes to go with a shoulder injury but a penalty from Greig Laidlaw and a try from Luke McAlister saw the French side complete a 24-7 victory.