In the end a fortuitous try in injury time and a conversion with the final kick of the match, allowed Ospreys to win by a single point, 24 - 23. It was a less than convincing performance by the holders of the trophy.

The Ospreys went on the attack from the start, moving the ball along their talented back line and using backs and forwards in combination as they looked to penetrate the Quins defence.  Then after 12 minutes a penalty about 35 metres from the posts allowed Hook to open the scoring with a successful kick.  Quins stuck to the task despite being penalised frequently.  They were fortunate that Hook missed with a simple penalty from the twenty-two metre line.  He declined the next opportunity from 45 metres but when a further opportunity arose in front of the posts and only 15 metres from the target Hook increased the lead to 6 - 0 after twenty-five minutes.

Harlequins now began to mount their first real attack of the match and the pressure brought a penalty in front of the posts and Luveniyali easily opened the Quins account, although another successful penalty kick by Hook a couple of minutes later maintained the gap to 9 - 3.

Both teams continued to test the opposing defences until, in the last minute of the half, a smart inside pass sparked an excellent break by Alan Wynn Jones. His long pass found Gavin Henson and his rapid pass found Shane Williams in space in a position from which he could not fail to score.  Hook=s conversion attempt failed.  There remained time for Taione to collect a yellow card for an offence at the tackle.  Ospreys led at half-time by 14  - 3.

Reduced to fourteen men, Quins started the second half with determination and speed.  A long high ball from Tom Williams was knocked-on by the Welsh full back to give Quins a scrum deep in the Osprey’s twenty-two.  Strong Quins’ pressure gradually reached almost across the Ospreys’ line and the ball was held in a mass of bodies only inches short.  It emerged on the Quins’side and was moved right to Masson whose inside pass found De Wet Barry on an excellent line to score by the right post.  Luveniyali added the conversion and with the score at 14 – 10 Quins were very much back in the game. 

Quins were back to full strength without any further scores on either side.  Quins were playing with greater confidence and their close passing and driving gradually took them back to the Ospreys’ try-line.  Once again the ball seemed to be buried in a mass of forwards inches from the line, but Tani Fuga burrowed his way over for the try.  Luveniyali added the conversion to give Quins the lead at 14 –17 as the game entered the last quarter.

The loss of the lead began to produce a loss of discipline by the Ospreys as a series of penalties at breakdowns gave Quins position and pressure and produced two scores for Luveniyali either side of on by Hook increasing Quins’ lead to 17 – 23 and a yellow card for Ryan Jones, the Ospreys skipper did nothing for their confidence. Hook missed a simple penalty kick.

The minutes ticked away and the game was in injury time as Ospreys kicked forward and pass by an Ospreys player had a lucky bounce off Charlie Amesbury.  It might have gone anywhere but it bobbled over the Quins try line for Tommy Bowe to touch down for the vital try.  With virtually the last kick of the match Hook’s conversion won the match 24 – 23.

Teams:

Ospreys: L Byrne; J Vaughton, S Parker (rep: TBowe, 41), G Henson, S Williams; J Hook, R Webb (rep: D Biggar, 66); D Jones, H Bennett (rep: RHibbard, 53), A Jones, I Gough (rep: L Bateman, 77), A-W Jones, F Tiatia (rep: T Smith, 66), MHolah, R Jones (sin-bin, 67-77).

Harlequins: T Williams (rep: S Stegmann, 74); E Taione (sin-bin, 40+2-48), D W Barry, T Masson, CAmesbury; W Luveniyali, A Gomarsall; A Croall, TFuga, M Lambert, J Percival, G Robson, C Robshaw (rep: T Guest, 77), N McMillan (rep: Guest, 26-33), P Davies.

Referee: T Wigglesworth (England). Attendance: 8,057.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• Preview: Ospreys v Harlequins

SPORTNETWORK SPECIALS