Sonny Parker notched two tries for the Ospreys as they hit the Pool 3 summit
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Matches: Benetton Treviso 16 - 36 Ospreys

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup

Teams: Italy | Wales

The Ospreys kept their Heineken Cup campaign on track with a 36-16 victory over Benetton Trevison in their Pool 3 clash at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.

Three tries in the first half hour gave Ospreys control of the game with Sonny Parker, Adam Jones and Jonathan Thomas all crossing for a try with fly-half James Hook adding the extras on two occasions.

The hosts rallied with a try from Brendan Williams that was converted by Andrea Marcato who also added a penalty before the sides headed into the break. However the visitors turned the screw after the break with further tries from Filo Tiatia and a second from Parker with Hook converting the first and replacement Dan Biggar the second.

Marcato had threatened to spark a comeback with the first score of the second half but his effort was soon cancelled out by Hook and although the Treviso fly-half added another - it was all his side could muster.

Ospreys made one change following their 10-try blitz over the Italians at the Liberty Stadium a week ago. IRB world player of the year, Shane Williams, was restored to the starting line-up containing 14 internationals in place of hamstring victim Nikki Walker. Gavin Henson had been named in a 23-man squad but did not travel as he awaited the birth of his second child.

Ospreys were handed the perfect start when Treviso flanker Hottie Louw was sin-binned in the sixth minute for a professional foul on Hook, whose chip and chase looked set to yield a try. The visitors took full advantage of the extra man as Parker scored the first try in the 13th minute.

Wales centre Parker finished the move in the right corner following good work by Thomas and Andrew Bishop. Hook crashed the conversion against the post but the visitors were halfway to their target of a crucial bonus-point when Thomas' sharp pass allowed lock Jones to power over for the second try four minutes later.

Wales flanker Thomas then crashed over for the third try to hand the Ospreys a commanding 19-point lead inside the opening 24 minutes. The forwards were in full flow with Tiatia and Richard Hibbard prominent before Thomas added his second try in as many weeks.

Marcato got the hosts on the scoreboard on the half hour with a routine penalty and Treviso were right back in the tie when Brendan Williams scored a 70-metre intercept try. Marcato converted to make it 19-10 at the interval lead and then added his second penalty to reduce the deficit to six points.

Hook and Marcato exchanged penalties as the Ospreys pushed for the vital fourth try in dismal conditions. And they thought they had secured the extra point when Rhodri Wells pounced over the line, but his effort was ruled out by television match official Geoff Warren.

But it did not matter two minutes later when Tiatia powered over from the back of a driving Ospreys scrum before Parker rounded off the scoring in the final minute.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley was satisfied with his side's victory and spared particular praise for his pack. "I thought our forwards were outstanding," he said. "They needed to front up today and Richard Hibbard was outstanding with his ball-carrying and his work-rate. Ian Gough and Alun Wyn showed the intensity and durability that has given them Wales honours, and Jonathan Thomas is coming back to great form.

"We have got the result and performance we wanted so we will just have to wait and see now. All we want is to have our own destiny in our own hands. The idea was to put the pressure on the other two, but either one of them tomorrow can put the pressure back on us.

"Treviso are not a bad side and made things difficult for us but the players did exceptionally well to keep their discipline and impose their own game. We always knew it was going to be a very difficult place to come. I'm delighted with the players and it shows we are making strides. We are maturing and to come away with five tries in these conditions is really pleasing."

Treviso coach Franco Smith said: "We tried our best and it was an improved display but the Ospreys are a very good side and were too strong for us."

Benetton Treviso: B Williams; A Vilk, B De Jager, F Waters, M Goosen; A Marcato, T Botes; F Sbaraglini, G Intoppa, P di Santo, A Pavanello, C Van Zyl, M Gilbride, H Louw, D Kingi

Replacements: D Vidal, E Ceccato, E Pavanello, M Barbieri, M Filippucci, M Horak, A Lucchese

Ospreys: L Byrne; T Bowe, S Parker, A Bishop, S Williams; J Hook, R Wells; P James [capt], R Hibbard, A Jones, I Gough, A Jones, J Thomas, M Holah, F Tiatia

Replacements: E Shervington, C Griffiths, T Smith, S Tandy, R Webb, D Biggar, J Vaughton

Referee: Rob Debney (England)

Attendance: 3,000