Biarritz clinch thriller

Paris - French side Biarritz edged Ospreys from Wales 29-28 in a fiercely contested Heineken Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

Tries to wing Takudzwa Ngwenya and fullback Iain Balshaw, 10 points from the boot of scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili and three drop goals by centre Damien Traille gave Biarritz their narrow victory in an entertaining game.

Opsreys ran in three tries to number eight and captain Ryan Jones, fullback Lee Byrne and substitute wing Nikki Walker, and flyback Daniel Biggar contributed 13 points from two penalties, two conversions and a drop goal.

Biarritz opened up a 10-0 lead, with a splendid try from Ngwenya, in San Sebastian, Spain, where the club from the French Basque country often play their European Cup matches.

Ospreys responded and changed sides trailing only by one point at 16-15. The Welsh side fought until the very end, a late try by Walker converted by Biggar putting them one point behind their hosts with four minutes left.

Biarritz held on to their narrow lead and go on to meet Munster or Northampton, who face each other in the quarter-finals later on Saturday.

Holders Leinster made the semi-finals with a 29-28 win over French side Clermont on Friday.