THE Ospreys were edged out 16-12 by Harlequins in a gritty LV= Cup encounter at the Brewery Field.
It looked ominous for the hosts when Harlequins sped into a 13-3 lead and, although four penalties from Matthew Morgan brought the Ospreys within a point of their opponents, the visitors made sure of victory with Ben Botica's late penalty.
Having won 19 of their 22 matches this season, it was no surprise to see Harlequins begin this encounter with confidence, though it was the Ospreys who took an early lead.
Morgan made a brilliant darting break into the visitors' half and, although the fly-half was stopped just short of the Quins' 22, he struck a penalty shortly afterwards to put the Ospreys 3-0 up.
They were soon pegged back as Harlequins controlled possession and forced two penalties, both of which were converted by Ben Botica.
The visitors were more clinical when they next attacked the Ospreys' line, with fly-half Rory Clegg passing to centre Matt Hopper, who cut inside on an incisive angle to scythe through from ten yards for the game's first try.
Botica converted to give Harlequins a 13-3 advantage, though Morgan chipped away at the deficit with his second penalty.
The former Wales Under-20s playmaker added another three points to see them trail 13-9 at half-time.
Morgan hit his fourth penalty to reduce the deficit to 13-12. Botica sealed the Harlequins' win as he sent a penalty, the final kick of the game, through the posts.
It looked ominous for the hosts when Harlequins sped into a 13-3 lead and, although four penalties from Matthew Morgan brought the Ospreys within a point of their opponents, the visitors made sure of victory with Ben Botica's late penalty.
Having won 19 of their 22 matches this season, it was no surprise to see Harlequins begin this encounter with confidence, though it was the Ospreys who took an early lead.
Morgan made a brilliant darting break into the visitors' half and, although the fly-half was stopped just short of the Quins' 22, he struck a penalty shortly afterwards to put the Ospreys 3-0 up.
They were soon pegged back as Harlequins controlled possession and forced two penalties, both of which were converted by Ben Botica.
The visitors were more clinical when they next attacked the Ospreys' line, with fly-half Rory Clegg passing to centre Matt Hopper, who cut inside on an incisive angle to scythe through from ten yards for the game's first try.
Botica converted to give Harlequins a 13-3 advantage, though Morgan chipped away at the deficit with his second penalty.
The former Wales Under-20s playmaker added another three points to see them trail 13-9 at half-time.
Morgan hit his fourth penalty to reduce the deficit to 13-12. Botica sealed the Harlequins' win as he sent a penalty, the final kick of the game, through the posts.