Leicester Tigers came from behind to defeat Ospreys by six points, 17-23, in Round 1 of the 2022/23 Heineken Champions Cup pool stages.
Trailing by four points at half-time, 10-6, a young Tigers outfit - with an average age of just 26 across the matchday squad - scored 17 points in the second half to kick off the new European season with an away win over an experienced Ospreys outfit.
Leicester's victory was only the second for the club in five visits to Swansea.com Stadium and included a senior club debut for Gabriel Oghre, as well as first Champions Cup outings in Tigers colours for Charlie Atkinson, Olly Cracknell, Anthony Watson and Sean Jansen.
Ospreys were the first to score when Jack Walsh landed his first penalty-goal attempt in the 10th minute before Atkinson levelled things up at 3-all just five minutes later.
The Leicester fly-half took Tigers into the lead only six minutes later with a second penalty-goal.
Repeated scrum infringements from the visitors saw Joe Heyes shown a yellow card just before the half-time break and Ospreys capitalised on the extra man, crossing for the game's first try in the final play of the half.
Walsh converted the score to see his side lead by four heading back into the changing rooms.
The young Tigers came out firing in the second half and, approaching the 50th minute, Atkinson kicked cross-field for Harry Potter who took the ball on the bounce and dived over for Leicester's first and to take back the lead - which the fly-half extended to three with a sideline conversion.
In what was an arm-wrestle of a match for almost an hour, Tigers full-back Watson went against the trend in the 57th minute when he stepped his way through a chasing Ospreys defensive line and danced his way around and over the last line of Welshman to score under the posts.
Atkinson's conversion from in front saw the visitors out to a ten-point lead, which Ospreys cut back to three with as many minutes remaining, before the Heineken Star of the Match winner pushed back out to six with his third of the match to secure the 17-23 win.
Commentary
WIN ON THE ROAD
A winning start for Tigers to this season's European campaign!
PEN | CHARLIE ATKINSON
After regathering the re-start, Tigers add three to their tally and extend the lead to six with three minutes remaining after Charlie Atkinson puts another penalty goal attempt through the posts.
CON | OSPREYS
The difference is cut to three points with five minutes remaining after a successful conversion attempt from out wide.
TRY | OSPREYS
The home side cross from close range with a pick-and-go from the back of a ruck on the Tigers line.
70
FINAL STAGES
Ospreys piling on the pressure in attack, ruck by ruck, within inches of the Tigers line.
65
WATSON CLEANS UP
Huge defensive effort from Anthony Watson, at the back, as the Tigers full-back cleans up an attacking kick from Ospreys and his teammates arrive to settle things down.
CON | CHARLIE ATKINSON
Charlie Atkinson sends the conversion attempt through the uprights and extends the lead to 10 points with 20 minutes remaining.
TRY | ANTHONY WATSON
In his first European outing for Tigers, Anthony Watson goes it solo from near halfway to dive over under the posts approaching the hour mark!
CON | CHARLIE ATKINSON
Charlie Atkinson lands the conversion attempt from the touchline, extending the lead to three points in the 53rd minute.
TRY | HARRY POTTER
A cross-field kick from Charlie Atkinson bounces into the arms of Harry Potter on the right wing, who dives over to take back the lead for Leicester with half an hour remaining.
45
FAST START
Plenty of energy to start the second-half from Tigers in Wales but, despite the attacking intent, Ospreys holding on in defence so far.
BACK UNDERWAY
The second-half gets going in Swansea!
BEHIND AT THE BREAK
Ospreys lead by four points, 10-6, at the break in Swansea after a hard-fought first 40 minutes of European rugby for both sides.
CON | OSPREYS
Ospreys convert their last-gasp try ahead of the break in Swansea to lead by four points.
TRY | OSPREYS
The home side take back the lead in the final minute of the first half after crossing from close range off the back of a ruck.
YELLOW | JOE HEYES
Joe Heyes is shown a yellow card for repeated infringements at scrum time.
A changed is force, with a scrum immediately after, seeing Harry Simmons off for the next 10 minutes also and Will Hurd on in the front-row in place of Heyes.
35
OSPREYS OPPORTUNITY
The home side with a chance, deep inside the Tigers half, after being awarded a scrum 5m out in the left-hand corner.
25
SET PIECE BATTLE
Both sides trading blows at the set piece as we enter the second quarter here in Swansea.
PEN | CHARLIE ATKINSON
Charlie Atkinson lands his second, from as many attempts, to see Tigers out to a three-point lead after 20 minutes in Swansea.
PEN | CHARLIE ATKINSON
We are level after 15 minutes as Charlie Atkinson lands a near 40m penalty-goal.
PEN | OSPREYS
The home side are the first to register points, from the kicking tee, after winning a penalty against the head at scrumtime within range for Jack Walsh in the 10th minute.
5
FIRST OPPORTUNITY
A penalty against the head at scrum time offers an opportunity to kick for touch, deep in the Ospreys half, and presents the first real attacking chance with a line-out from 5m out.
The attack comes to an end after several phases as the home side turnover the ball at the breakdown.
KICK OFF IN SWANSEA
We - and this season's European campaign - are underway in Swansea, with Ospreys kicking off!
-5
PREPARATIONS COMPLETE
Warm-up complete as both sides return to the changing rooms and we are just five minutes away from the beginning of this season's European campaign!
WARMING UP
-15
TEAM NEWS
Late change to the side for tonight's game: Harry Simmons comes in for Hosea Saumaki on the wing.
-20
LIVE FROM SWANSEA
Welcome to Matchday LIVE, coming to you from Swansea, as we prepare to get our European campaign underway!