Ospreys Hook a late winner
Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:02
The Ospreys began the defence of their EDF Energy Cup title with a dramatic 24-23 victory over Harlequins at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
It required an injury-time conversion by Welsh flyhalf James Hook of a Tommy Bowe try to sneak the win in a game which saw Gavin Henson start his first game after a six-month injury lay-off.
The defending champions began their campaign in stuttering fashion against under-strength Harlequins.
Quins were without most of their Guinness Premiership players, including England quartet Danny Care, David Strettle, Mike Brown and Nick Easter, but they came within seconds of winning.
Ospreys substitute Tommy Bowe scored a breakaway try three minutes into injury-time, with Hook converting in nerveless fashion from the touchline.
Hook earlier booted four penalties, giving him 14 points, while wing Shane Williams scored from the game's best move.
Wales centre Henson, previously confined to a brief substitute's appearance since suffering an ankle injury against Heineken Cup quarterfinal opponents Saracens last season, made little impact.
But he was not alone, as Ospreys' huge contingent of international players were pushed to the limit by old-fashioned bravery and determination.
Quins nearly delivered the first surprise of the season thanks to second-half tries from centre De Wet Barry and hooker Tani Fuga.
Fijian flyhalf Waisea Luveniyali added three penalties and two conversions, yet Quins could ultimately only reflect on a heart-breaking defeat.
Hook booted two penalties for a 6-0 lead after 25 minutes, with Quins only opening their account through a Luveniyali penalty on a first excursion into Ospreys' 22.
The Welsh were side were kept in check through a combination of their own over-eagerness and Quins' admirable commitment, but they conjured a memorable try as half-time approached.
Hook's defence-splitting pass sent lock Alun Wyn Jones galloping clear, before some slick passing saw Henson put Williams over in the corner.
It was a move that would have unlocked most defences, and Quins knew they had to keep things together as the interval approached.
But they trooped off one player down after referee Tim Wigglesworth had little option other than to sin-bin Quins' powerhouse Tongan wing Epi Taione.
Taione's illegal tackle on Hook saw Wigglesworth reach for a yellow card, and the Ospreys were close to taking charge at 14-3 ahead.
Quins though, dominated the early second-half flurries after Ospreys' former Ulster wing Bowe replaced Sonny Parker alongside Henson in midfield.
Wing Charlie Amesbury attacked the Ospreys from deep, and although Robshaw was denied a try from an ensuing ruck, Tosh Masson sent his centre partner Barry over for a well-crafted score.
Luveniyali added the extras, giving Ospreys a piercing wake-up call after they had done little to support many pre-match predictions from outside the camp of posting a landslide win.
And matters deteriorated for the home side after 56 minutes when the Quins forwards again produced irresistible momentum, and Fuga touched down under a pile of bodies.
Referee Wigglesworth required confirmation from video official Tony Rowlands before the try was awarded, before Luveniyali's conversion put Quins 17-14 in front.
Luveniyali then kicked a 45-metre penalty, which was quickly cancelled out by Hook's short-range strike, before an intriguing Ospreys tactical switch saw Williams move to scrumhalf.
But the Ospreys were their own worst enemies, with Jones being sin-binned for a technical infringement and handing Luveniyali an easy penalty chance that he gratefully accepted.
Jones and the Ospreys though, were saved by Bowe's dramatic late score that was created by fullback Lee Byrne's break and precision kick into space.
The scorers:
For the Ospreys:
Tries: S Williams, Bowe
Cons: Hook
Pens: Hook 4
For Harlequins:
Tries: Barry, Fuga
Cons: Luveniyali 2
Pens: Luveniyali 3
Yellow card: Ryan Jones (Ospreys, 64), Epi Taione (Harlequins, 38)
The teams:
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Jonny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Filo Tiatia, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Andrew Millward, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Steve Tandy, 20 Tom Smith, 21 Daniel Biggar, 22 Tommy Bowe.
Harlequins: 15 Tom Williams, 14 Epi Taione, 13 De Wet Barry, 12 Tosh Masson, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Waisea
Luveniyali, 9 Andy Gomarsall (c), 8 Phil Davies, 7 Neil Mcmillan, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 George Robson, 4 James Percival, 3 Mark Lambert, 2 Tani Fuga, 1 Aston Croall.
Replacements: 16 Dan Frazier, 17 Ignacio Elosu, 18 Ollie Kohn, 19 Tom Guest, 20 Gareth Williams, 21 Seb Jewell, 22 Seb Stegmann.
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth (England)
Touch judges: David Rose (England), Bob Mullis (England)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (Wales)
