Cardiff Rugby salvaged a point as they were outmuscled on New Year’s Day with the Ospreys claiming a bonus-point victory in Bridgend.
The Blue & Blacks ended 2025 with a victory over the Dragons and had the chance to climb to the top of the BKT United Rugby Championship if they kicked off 2026 with a win.
But they were second best in a fiery Welsh derby, which the Ospreys dominated.
Cardiff scored a fine try through Josh Adams in the first half but the Ospreys ran in five tries through Keelan Giles, Sam Parry, Iestyn Hopkins and a Kieran Hardy brace.
To their credit, and with everything going against them, Cardiff continued to fight with Adams and Taulupe Faletau claiming late consolations, before Javan Sebastian darted over in the last play of the game to gain Cardiff a crucial bonus point.
Cardiff now have a 10-day turnaround until they are back in action, against Racing 92 in the European Challenge Cup.
The hosts enjoyed the early territory and possession at a sold out Dunraven Brewery Field and spent several minutes hammering at the Cardiff line.
Twice they turned down a shot at goal or kick to the corner as they looked to utilise their power game but after Kieran Hardy lost the ball short, Harri Deaves was held up by some excellent work from Johan Mulder, among others.
However, the hosts did get reward for their early dominance as they worked numbers on the left with Keelan Giles put into space. The wing made the inside break and then skipped inside Cam Winnett for a fine try. Dan Edwards added the extras despite losing his footing.
Cardiff could not get into the game in the early exchanges with refereeing decisions favouring the home side and a vocal crowd baying for blood.
With a 6-0 penalty count and the tide of momentum against them, Cardiff needed to find something and with their first real attack they scored a fine try.
A Ben Thomas break started the move, and he released Harri Millard. Mason Grady made good yards down the left, a phase later, and when the ball came back right, Keiron Assiratti moved the ball out the back and it was that man Thomas again who ghosted through the home defence to put Adams away.
Sheedy converted from wide but the Ospreys were soon back in front when Kieran Hardy dived over from close-range, with Edwards firing wide.
With. Cardiff back on the attack, they were dealt a blow when Liam Belcher was sin-binned for a clumsy clear out on Rhys Davies, who was flipped beyond the horizontal.
Cardiff survived the yellow card period unscathed and returned for the second-half full complement but they were soon dealt another blow as the Ospreys claimed a third try.
It came in hugely fortuitous circumstances as a stray pass from Edwards was hacked forward in hope. It ricocheted off Thomas and straight back to Kieran Williams, who went close and a phase later Sam Parry powered over.
Edwards converted to make it 19-7 and leave the Blue & Blacks with an uphill task. They continued to lose the battle of the breakdown and they were caught napping as the Ospreys claimed the bonus-point with Hardy sniping through from the twenty-two.
That wrapped up the bonus-point and matters were made worse when Hopkins sliced through from a fine set-play.
Cardiff responded with a fine try on the counterattack finished by Adams, continuing his run of scoring with four tries in his last three matches.
Less than two minutes later, Taulupe Faletau crossed over following a well worked move, before Javan Sebastian’s crucial carry over the line in the 80th minute earned Cardiff the late bonus point.