They had already beaten the Dragons 26-5 and RGC 39-17 and their latest victory allowed them to remain unbeaten and stay top of the table.
Tight head prop Kian Hire gave the visitors the perfect start with a close-range score after only six minutes that was converted by outside half Charlie Thomas. A minute later Cardiff replied with a try from hooker Saul Hurley which Harri Wilde improved to make it 7-7
Outside half Wilde kicked two penalties before the break, the first of which edged the home side in front at 10-7, but a second Ospreys try from No 8 Kyle Harris, which Thomas once again converted, meant the visitors changed ends 14-13 ahead.
The second half had hardly started before a penalty try increased the Ospreys lead and they then stretched even further ahead when replacement Cerith Davies added a fourth try. The Thomas conversion made it 28-13 and the home cause wasn’t helped by two second half yellow cards to prop Max Bignell and back row man Jaden Watkins.
A second try from Harris 19 points without reply after the break as the gap opened up to 20 points. That left Cardiff with a mountain to climb, but they came close in the end thanks to a spirited fightback.
Tries from replacement hooker Evans Wood and Owen Conquer, both converted by Wilde, brought the Blue & Blacks back to within one score. It was close, but not close enough.
For Cardiff, it was a first defeat after wins over RGC (17-7), Scarlets (21-12) and Dragons (7-5) and leaves them two points behind the Ospreys having played one game more. They meet again in the final round of fixtures on 22 February.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
22 January
RGC v Scarlets
25 January
Ospreys v Dragons
29 January
Cardiff v RGC
1 February
Scarlets v Cardiff
8 February
Dragons v Scarlets
RGC v Ospreys
15 February
Cardiff v Dragons
Scarlets v Ospreys
22 February
Ospreys v Cardiff
Scarlets v RGC
RESULTS TO DATE
18 January
Cardiff 27 – 33 Ospreys
11 January
Dragons 5 – 7 Cardiff
4 January
Ospreys 39 – 17 RGC
Scarlets 21 – 3 Dragons
19 December
Cardiff 21 – 12 Scarlets
18 December
RGC 29 – 43 Dragons
14 December
Dragons 5 – 26 Ospreys
11 December
RGC 7 – 17 Cardiff
