Ospreys (13) 26 Tries: Walker (2), R Jones Conv: Biggar Pens: Biggar (2) DG: Biggar Cardiff Blues (0) 0
Ospreys wing Nikki Walker opens the scoring with a 19th minute try
Nikki Walker's try double inspired the Ospreys to a convincing triumph over the Cardiff Blues as the Ospreys moved to the top of the Magners League table.
The Scottish wing continued his red-hot scoring form as he twice clinically finished flowing first-half moves to notch up four tries in as many games.
Wales captain Ryan Jones capped a fine personal display with a try and young fly-half Dan Biggar kicked 11 points.
The Ospreys extended their impressive home run against their big rivals.
They now have just one defeat against the Blues since the inception of regional rugby as they stretched their winning run to five games.
The only thing missing from the Ospreys' dominant display against a weakened Blues team - without Wales stars Jamie Roberts, Martyn Williams and Andy Powell - in snowy Swansea was a bonus point.
Dai Young's side - who missed two penalties and saw prop Gary Powell sin-binned - were a shadow of the side that scored five tries and 39 unanswered second-half points in their 42-13 hammering of the Dragons on Sunday.
Scott Johnson's team may have been without Wales pair Alun Wyn Jones and James Hook but were boosted by the return of Lions duo Adam Jones and Lee Byrne to their starting line-up.
The hosts showed great defensive qualities to shut-out the Blues as the visitors ran out of attacking options while the Ospreys cut loose at will.
Man-of-the-match Biggar scored the first of his 11 points in the 11th minute with a snap drop-goal from in front of the posts.
The Blues had a chance to level with a penalty after a scrum offence but Ben Blair pushed his kick wide of the right upright before Biggar did likewise three minutes later.
Walker made the breakthrough in the 19th minute with an unconverted try after the hosts had turned over possession on the 22 with Ricky Januarie and Jonathan Thomas linking before Walker crashed over in the left corner.
Wales centre Tom Shanklin hobbled off with a knee injury after 30 minutes
Walker doubled his tally with his sixth try of the season the 31st minute after Biggar dashed through a gap after a scrum.
With the Blues defence in disarray, the Ospreys backs put it through the hands before the wing went over back in his favoured left corner.
Biggar landed a penalty within the first two minutes of the restart before Blues full-back Blair saw his penalty rebound off the left post.
The Blues had already suffered an injury blow when Wales centre Tom Shanklin hobbled off with a knee injury in the first half before their tight-head Powell was then yellow-carded after a collapsed scrum as Biggar extended the lead from the resulting penalty.
The Ospreys capitalised as skipper Jones squeezed in at the left corner as the Blues fell to their first defeat against a Welsh region this season.
Ospreys forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys:
"Local derbies, especially against the Blues, are usually hard-fought encounters and we are delighted we didn't concede any points as we have worked on our defence to play such a high quality side.
"We feel December and January are the defining months in our season and we have planned meticulously for it. We are pleased with our progress."
Cardiff Blues director of rugby Dai Young:
"I can take very little out of this game and we have to take it on the chin as we were beaten by a far better team on the day.
"They had us under a stranglehold for most of the game and once they got into our half they looked threatening.
"We failed to handle them and because we didn't have any field position, we couldn't find any momentum and create anything ourselves."
Ospreys: Byrne, Bowe, Parker, Bishop, Walker, Biggar, Januarie; James, Hibbard, A. Jones, Gough, J. Thomas, Collins, Holah, R. Jones. Replacements: Owen for Biggar (74), Nutbrown for Januarie (62), Bennett for Hibbard (53), Griffiths for A. Jones (58), Evans for Gough (62), Tiatia for Collins (69). Not Used: Spratt.
Cardiff Blues: Blair, Mustoe, Laulala, Shanklin, T. James, Norton-Knight, Rees; Jenkins, T. Thomas, G. Powell, Davies, Morgan, Warburton, Sowden-Taylor, Rush. Replacements: Sweeney for Blair (69), G. Thomas for Shanklin (30), Cooper for Rees (69), G. Williams for T. Thomas (61), Filise for G. Powell (63), Tito for Davies (53), White for Sowden-Taylor (41).
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?