HEINEKEN CUP POOL 2 Ospreys (3) 16: Tries: Tiueti, Gibbs Pens: Connor 2. Edinburgh (18) 32: Tries: Joiner, Southwell, Paterson, Blackadder Cons: Paterson 3 Pens: Paterson 2. Att: 1,822

The Ospreys were pushed closer to the Heineken Cup exit door as four tries helped Edinburgh to a comfortable victory in appalling conditions at St Helen's.

The Scottish side moved clear of the pack in Pool 2 thanks to scores from Todd Blackadder, Craig Joiner, Chris Paterson and Hugo Southwell that earned a bonus point.

Scotland World Cup star Paterson also claimed three conversions and two penalties to finish with 17 points.

The victory for the Gunners comes hot on the heels of their triumph over holders Toulouse last week and leaves them well placed to strike for the quarter-finals.

But the Ospreys' hopes are now hanging by a thread. They have home and away fixtures against Toulouse to follow and will need to improve hugely.

Some of Edinburgh's handling in the wind and rain was exceptional Ospreys coach Lyn Jones

For Edinburgh, man-of-the-match Scott Murray was a towering presence in the line-outs and around the field, while Blackadder and Simon Taylor shone in the back row.

After an early exchange of penalties, New Zealander Blackadder claimed the opening try from a line-out close to the Ospreys' line.

Heavy rain stifled any thoughts of expansive play but the Welsh suffered at the line-out as hooker Huw Bennett struggled to find his targets.

This result shows we are in form and full of confidence Edinburgh assistant coach Henry Edwards

A second try for the visitors arrived on the stroke of half-time when Joiner chipped past the home defence and outpaced lock Luke Tait to touch down.

Any chance the home side had was killed off in the third quarter by the touchdowns from Paterson and Southwell.

Scott Gibbs and Dave Tiueti crossed for late tries, but the Welsh region were completely outgunned in front of a disappointing crowd of 1,822.

The amalgamation of the cream of the Neath and Swansea clubs have lost six games in a row and looked bereft of confidence against the Scots.

Ospreys: A Durston; S Terblanche, D Tiueti, S Gibbs (capt), S Williams; S Connor, A Williams; A Millward, H Bennett, A Jones, A Newman, L Tait, G Llewellyn, G Thomas, J Thomas.
Replacements: B Williams, P Jones, N Bonner-Evans, S Tandy, P Horgan, M Jones, E Seveali'l.

Edinburgh: D Lee; C Joiner, M Di Rollo, B Laney, H Southwell; C Paterson, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, C Smith, N Hines, S Murray, T Blackadder (capt), A Hogg, S Taylor.
Replacements: C Di Ciacca, R Mathieson, A Kellock, A Dall, G Burns, A Warnock, A Dickson.

Referee: David Pearson (England).