WORCESTER Warriors left the Liberty Stadium heartbroken after a last-minute Ross Jones try secured a 23-19 victory for Ospreys.

For much of the game it had looked as though Dean Ryan’s men would extinguish any memories of the pre-match build-up after a blazing performance, where Warriors led for much of the match.

Early tries from Josh Matavesi and David Lemi had given the visitors an early advantage but the hosts responded with tries from Richard Fussell and Jeff Hassler.

Ed Shervington’s late try was nearly enough to win it for Warriors before Jones stole it at the death.

The match did not start until 4.30pm after the Warriors team coach caught fire as it travelled down the M5.

When the match did finally get under way, Warriors instantly put their opponents under pressure as Paul Warwick kicked deep into the Ospreys 22.

Within two minutes the visitors had gone ahead as Matavesi exploited a gap in the home defence and ran through to open the scoring.

Ospreys got their first points on the board three minutes later as Dan Biggar scored a penalty from the Warriors 10-metre line.

The kick seemed to only intensify the game and Warriors had their second try after just seven minutes as Dean Schofield found Lemi, who strolled through to extend the visitors’ lead. Warwick made no mistake with a conversion from a similar position to his first as Warriors cruised to a 12-3 lead.

Chris Pennell was called into action for the first time soon afterwards as he halted a flowing attacking move down the right but Ospreys were allowed to close the gap as Biggar scored his second penalty.

Home number eight Joe Bearman burst through and fed James King as Ospreys looked for a first-half try and they did finally go over the whitewash after 25 minutes as Fussell dived over in the left corner after an intense spell of pressure.

Biggar pulled his conversion wide as Warriors held on to their lead.

Ignacio Mieres and Max Stelling were introduced for the second period as Ryan’s men looked for a repeat of the first-half.

But it was Ospreys who got the better start as Hassler and Ben John took it in turns to force their way upfield.

The Welsh side took the lead for the first time when Hassler received the ball in space down the right and barged his way over.

Mieres started to control the match at fly-half with a series of kicks into touch as Warriors looked to gain field position.

The away side pressed for a third try but were held up short of the line from a driving maul on the hour mark. Ospreys were nearly gifted their third try after a quick Warwick lineout was intercepted by Fussell.

The Australian managed to recover ground along with Pennell and Warriors ultimately survived the scare.

Warriors took advantage as Shervington ensured his side were rewarded with a third try as he went over from a driving maul after 68 minutes. Mieres was successful with his first conversion.

It was all Ospreys from there and they pushed for a winner late on as they camped inside the Warriors 22.

The organised Warriors defence repelled the Ospreys backline for nearly 10 minutes but the visitors’ hearts were broken as Jones dived over to secure a home victory.

Warriors: Pennell, Drauniniu, Fatiaki, Matavesi (Stelling 40), Lemi (Mieres 40), Warwick, Su’a (Hodgson 49), Taulava (De Carpentier 62 (Taulava 67, Becasseau 77), Becasseau (Andrew 26, (Becasseau 30) 67), Shervington, Andress (Murray 49), Williams, Schofield, Thomas, Betty. Replacements not used: Seymour, Casson, Clarke, Stephenson, Howard.