Home side the Ospreys were able to fight off a late Edinburgh Gunners comeback to run out 24-17 winners at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

The Ospreys had two players go to the sinbin late on and the visitors used their numercial advantge to run the home side close, scoring tries late on.

Both sides profitted from returning international players after the Six Nations Championship, although unfortunately Scotland’s Chris Paterson pulled out just before the match.

For the Ospreys, Shane Williams was in sparkling form, constantly asking questions of the Edinburgh defence.

Up 24-3 with six minutes remaining the home side had two players sin-binned and as a consequence conceded two late tries.

But overall the performance, which included 14 points from the boot of Gavin Henson, was much improved following the 40-14 hammering at Cardiff earlier in the month.

The Ospreys welcomed back five of their Wales stars – Duncan Jones, Adam Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Shane Williams and Henson.

But the Scots could go three better, and would have made it 10 Scotland players if Chris Paterson had not have pulled out with flu just before the start.

After Henson and Phil Godman traded penalties in a low quality first quarter, the Ospreys clicked into some much-needed form following their 40-14 humiliation at Cardiff Blues earlier in the month.

The home side went on to score 15 unanswered points to give them a 18-3 half-time lead.

After Henson put over a second penalty the Ospreys produced two tries in the space of four minutes.

Hooker Huw Bennett went over from a drive from a seven-metre line-out and that was followed by outside-half Shaun Connor nipping in down the left flank.

The Ospreys began the second half with real positive intent as Shane Williams was sent on an impressive 50 metre run before being stopped 10 metres short.

Another try went begging after an impressive outside break by Sonny Parker, but Simon Webster was penalised for a deliberate knock-on and got a yellow card for his trouble.

Henson put over the three points and repeated the feat four minutes later to give the Ospreys a 24-3 lead.

Edinburgh did their best to close the 21-point deficit but the Ospreys held firm until they had two players sent to the sin-bin and after Cai Griffiths received a yellow card Webster went in for a try.

Two minutes later the Ospreys were reduced to 13 men when Jonathan Thomas was also binned and Edinburgh took advantage again with Peter Jorgensen going over for a try.