Ospreys 25 Clermont Auvergne 24:Ospreys had to withstand a second-half comeback from Clermont before registering their opening Heineken Cup Pool Three win at the Liberty Stadium.

The home side led 22-3 at half-time before Clermont scored three converted tries in the space of nine minutes to lead 24-22.

But a 64th-minute penalty from Dan Biggar put the Ospreys back in the lead and they held on for the win.

There was a scare for Wales less than three weeks before they take on New Zealand in the opening autumn international with Mike Phillips limping off with an injury to his right ankle.

Ospreys showed positive intent from the start and Dan Biggar scored a drop goal in the second minute.

And they went further ahead seven minutes later with a well worked try for centre Tommy Bowe, who latched onto Nikki Walker’s neat chip ahead.

Clermont responded with a drop goal of their own from Australian outside-half Brock James but the visitors suffered a blow to their chances of getting back on terms when second row Thabault Privat was shown a yellow card for a trip on Shane Williams.

With the extra man Ospreys took full advantage as Ryan Jones went over for the second try from short range. Biggar converted to give the home side a 15-3 lead on 28 minutes.

But Ospreys were also reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Jerry Collins two minutes later for an illegal challenge on James. A second setback for the Ospreys, and a worry for Wales, saw Phillips limp off on 33 minutes. He was replaced by Jamie Nutbrown.

But despite that the home side scored their third try with the last move of the first period. Barry Davies went over after a neat chip ahead from Biggar was collected by Bowe and passed through the hands.

If Ospreys had dominated the first half, Clermont certainly made an impact at the start of the second, scoring three converted tries to turn a 19-point deficit into a 24-22 lead.

The first try arrived within the first two minutes. After a couple of darts by scrum-half Kevin Seino, flanker Julien Bonnaire kicked ahead and with Ospreys defence nowhere to be seen, winger Benoit Baby scored.

Replacement prop Domingo squeezed over for the second try and made the break which saw flanker Alexandre Lapandry go over three minutes later.

Ospreys stopped the rot on 64 minutes with a well-struck long-range penalty by Biggar as they went back into the lead at 25-24, and Clermont then had a try disallowed when wing Napolini Nalaga was forced into touch before getting the ball down in the left corner.

Ospreys clung on for the win after James struck the left upright with a 74th-minute penalty.