Ospreys win Heineken Cup classic
A simply brilliant Heineken Cup Pool Six match at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday afternoon saw the Ospreys record a dramatic 17-12 win over Leicester and secure themselves a spot in the quarterfinals of the European competition.
High-paced from start to finish, the Tigers looked certain to snatch a late win with some sustained pressure on the Ospreys line in the closing minutes.
It was not meant to be however and, when all was said and done, it was the home side who could celebrate a victory and look forward to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2009/10 Heineken Cup.
The match had a ferocious start with Dan Biggar especially heavily involved for the Ospreys. The Welsh region were looking to put the pressure on a couple of the young Tigers players but the young stars responded well.
Leicester first spell of good possession saw them impress as well. Some clever work from Dan Hipkiss and Toby Flood saw them almost make a decisive break. Lewis Moody too nearly broke the line but was brilliantly tackled by centre Andrew Bishop.
The Tigers won an early penalty in easy kicking range for Flood and the England No.10 made no mistake.
Stunned into action the Ospreys launched a good attack and, after a sniping break from Springbok Ricky Januarie, Biggar took the chance to snap over a drop goal and level the scores.
Despite everything that was at stake both sides were looking to play some great rugby. Hipkiss, Jordan Crane and Louis Deacon were all impressive for the visitors while Bishop and Adam Jones were both working hard for the Ospreys.
12 minutes gone Flood slotted over his second penalty of the afternoon but Biggar, just two minutes later, replied with his first three pointer from the kicking tee.
For every great running line there was an equally great hit in defence – both teams were not going to be found wanting in the determination stakes on Saturday afternoon.
After a series of reset scrums referee Alan Lewis awarded the Tigers a penalty which allowed Staunton to lunch them into the Ospreys’ half. A solid lineout laid the platform for Staunton then to snap a drop goal and put Leicester 9-6 ahead.
Once again though the Ospreys responded. Shane Williams shows some great footwork to put the pressure on the Leicester defence and, after some quick phases, the Tigers conceded another penalty. Biggar adds to his tally – 9-all with 25 minutes of the game gone.
Young Tigers No.9 Ben Youngs and Januarie were having a fantastic battle at the base of the scrum. Both players made little darts around the rucks and giving their lines some good quick service.
A four-minute spell without a stop provided some of the best rugby of the season. Jerry Collins, after some good work with Biggar, went on a 40m charge down field. The All Black showed fantastic speed, skill and then awareness to make a pass to Alun-Wyn Jones. Some great scrambling defence saved the Tigers but just a couple of minutes Tommy Bowe got the key try for the Ospreys.
Attacking the line well, Hook was the man to dink through a left foot grubber into the corner for Bowe to finish – and finish he did.
The Tigers were given a penalty right at the death of the first half following an alteration between Lote Tuqiri and Ricky Januarie but Fllod was unable to make it count, meaning the teams went into the break with the hosts 14-9 up.
A strong start to the half for the Ospreys – with a good take from Alun-Wyn Jones and a good Hook clearance – then resulted in a penalty for the home side. Biggar though could not capitalize on the opportunity.
Some dynamic running from the Ospreys kept them in the Leicester half but the good field position was wasted with a poor drop goal attempt from Biggar.
The Welsh side enjoyed 75% of the early possession in the second period but it was Flood who got the first score, a penalty taking the score to 14-12.
An enthralling contest, the home crowd was cheering every success for the Ospreys – big tackles, penalties, strong runs; any chance they got the fans of Ospreylia would get on their feet.
Ten minutes into the second half Biggar finally got some points on the board for the Ryan Jones men, slotting over a penalty from 35m out.
As the match approached the hour mark it was still very much in favour of the Ospreys but still only five points separated the teams. Leicester were under the cosh but, like they have done so many times before, they were staying alive thanks to some fantastic commitment on defence.
Leicester starlet Ben Youngs remained the major threat for this team and, with a break down the right, almost sparked the vital score.
A strange minute of play then saw the Ospreys reprimanded for having had 16 men on the field for a minute. Lee Byrne, who had been off with a blood injury, had returned without Sonny Parker departing.
Leicester though were relentless. With less than five minutes left on the clock the English side were all over the Ospreys. Scrambling defence, by Marty Holah, Januarie, Williams and Alun-Wyn Jones and Ryan Jones just did enough.
A simply unbelievable period of play looked certain to result in a Leicester score with Hamilton going incredibly close in the right hand corner for after Tuqiri had made the space with a clever pass. Typical Leicester, control, determined – only an uncharacteristic handling error from Aaron Mauger brought the move to an end.
Perhaps the biggest decision of the season for the Ospreys season then came at a scrum five metres from their line. A penalty in favour of the Welsh side, Hook cleared and, after a successful lineout, the ball was kickout by Januarie and the final whistle sounded.
All Black Holah was named the official man of the match but Hook, Bishop and Collins, as well as Tigers Young and Geoff Parling could easily have been worthy winners as well.
The win means the Ospreys are now certain to go through with Clermont from Pool Three.
The Scorers
For Ospreys
Try: Bowe
Pen: Bigger 3
DG: Biggar
For Leicester
Pen: Flood 3
DG: Staunton
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Ian Gough, 20 Filo Tiatia, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Sonny Parker, 23 Nikki Walker.
Leicester: 15 Scott Hamilton, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Jeremy Staunton, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Craig Newby, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Louis Deacon (captain), 3 Dan Cole, 2 Mefin Davies, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Ben Kay, 20 Ben Woods, 21 James Grindal, 22 Aaron Mauger, 23 Alesana Tuilagi.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Sean Flannery (Ireland)
TMO: David McHugh (Ireland)