LYON PUT PAID TO OSPREYS' HOPES FOR FIRST SEMI

OSPREYS head coach Mark Jones was left to rue some errors as he reflected on a disappointing European exit at the hands of French Top 14 side Lyon.

- BEN JAMES Reporter

Tries from Jac Morgan and George McGuigan gave the hosts real hope of a European semi-final, but it wasn't to be their day as the French side just about kept them at bay, holding on for a narrow 20-18 win in Swansea.

The Ospreys had been Wales' last representative in European competition and would have been harbouring hopes of reaching the Challenge Cup final in Cardiff later this season.

"It's disappointing because the effort was there, as you would expect," said Jones. "But we definitely dropped below a level of accuracy that we've shown over the last few months.

"Some of that was down to Lyon and the pressure they put on us around the contact area, but also a lot of skill-set stuff there we are a bit disappointed with.

"The little errors add up at the end and that's disappointing because a lot of it was in our control."

Despite dominating possession, game management at crucial times seemed to let down the home side, who were looking to reach their first ever European semi-final.

"We wanted the ball, [to] dictate the speed of the game and move their big guys around," said Jones.