DEAN RICHARDS admitted to some defensive concerns after Newcastle Falcons’ European Challenge Cup campaign ended in a 26-21 home defeat to Ospreys.

The reverse confirmed Falcons’ exit from the competition, and came despite the hosts having led as the game entered its final quarter.

Ospreys progress as the unbeaten pool winners, with Falcons’ only victories having come in their home matches against Lyon and Grenoble.

Richards was happy to have got some game time into a number of his fringe players, but was concerned at the defensive lapses that proved so costly on Saturday.

“We wanted to win all of our home games, and that’s what has disappointed me more than anything,” said Richards. “What happens at the away games happens, and if you win one or two of those, you stand a chance of going through.

“If you lose all your away games and one of your home matches, you have no chance, and that’s what has happened. So yeah, we’re disappointed.

“In terms of sticking to our shape and understanding how we want to play, it has still been useful. We created opportunities all over the place, but it was just having that accuracy to finish them off.

“I was also a bit worried by our defence. We conceded far too many tries, as we did the week before as well, and that concerns me more than anything.”

Ospreys opened the scoring through a try from Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb, but Falcons hit back as Daniel Temm crossed in the corner.

Craig Willis added a touchline conversion, and Falcons claimed the lead when replacement prop Rob Vickers powered over from close range.

Chris Harris scored Falcons’ third try, swooping onto a grubber kick from Willis, but Ospreys hit back shortly before the hour mark with a try from Hanno Dirksen.

The Welsh visitors then turned the game on its head with a late double strike, with tries from Sam Davies and Scott Otten securing a five-point win.

Newcastle Falcons: Tait, Catterick, C Harris, Waldouck, Burdon, Willis (Hodgson 60), M Young (Egerton 71); B Harris (Vickers 40), Cooper (Nelson 66), Welsh (Ryan 71), Green (Botha 71), Robinson, Welch (Orr 68), Temm, M Wilson.