Ospreys lose out in see-saw battle

Apr 20 2008 Wales On Sunday

Munster 9-8 Ospreys

MUNSTER’S reserve side secured a morale boosting one point win over a star-studded Ospreys side at Musgrave Park last evening.

An injury time penalty by man of the match Paul Warwick proved enough to eke out a narrow victory and give the Reds the perfect send off ahead of next weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Saracens.

Fresh from their Anglo-Welsh Cup success, a star-laden Ospreys side didn’t take long to hit their stride, showing plenty invention behind the scrum, and after just four minutes, had three points on the board. Sonny Parker took a good line through midfield before laying off to Lee Byrne, Munster were pinged at the breakdown and James Hook calmly landed a 30 metre penalty from the right side.

Ospreys, directed by the sniping Justin Marshall and the elegant James Hook, manoeuvred cleverly behind their pack, building phases and displaying good ball retention.

Munster indiscipline at the breakdown saw Ospreys awarded another penalty inside halfway on nine minutes. Hook showed ambition in his attempt from 54 metres, and though wind-assisted, it sailed narrowly wide.

The home side slowly battled their way into the game.

Their first points arrived after a move initiated by Warwick and Shaun Payne and taken up the middle by Tony Buckley, Ospreys infringed. Warwick made no mistake from close range.

Munster indiscipline continued to be their Achilles heel, but had hook brought his shooting boots the visitors could have been further ahead. The Wales out half was uncharacteristically off target in the 16th and 17th minutes.

The game continued to be played at a high tempo, there was real intensity at the breakdown and pleasing for Declan Kidney was the performance of John O’Sullivan against the highly-rated All Black Marty Holah. O’Sullivan made two huge turnovers but from such situations, Munster should have notched a try when Anthony Horgan was awarded a gilt-edged chance, but blew it with Lee Byrne isolated.

Shaun Payne then showed his fleetness of foot, skipping down the stand side before sliding into touch from a superb Johnny Vaughton tackle.

The second twenty belonged to Munster and the individual performances of O’Leary, Warwick and Payne behind Ryan, O’Sullivan must have pleased Kidney enormously. O’Leary was full of energy, making half breaks, showing leadership while Rona O’Gara’s understudy, Warwick, was hugely influential. Warwick did miss a 38th minute kick and Barry Murphy was showing great form out side centre too.

Big hits, sometimes overzealous rucking and quick top of the ground rugby highlighted the early second half exchanges. Ospreys provided the high points, Filo Titia’s midfield break was stopped by a huge Payne tackle before the chase for Hook’s through ball for Andrew Bishop was won by Murphy.

Warwick pushed Munster in front from a close-in penalty in the 63rd minute. A minute later, Kidney brought on the cavalry, introducing five fresh faces. A big hit form Jerry Flannery on Vaughton forced the Ospreys winger to retire before Keith Earls provided the moment of th second half, sprinting from his own 22 though a blanket of black shirts to within yards of the opposition line. Earls had options either side of him and should have off-loaded but from the breakdown, Stringer’s pass to Horgan bounced off the winger and a chance to put daylight between the sides was lost.

Hook was off target again in the 72nd minute but the Welsh region didn’t have to wait long to retake the lead after a neat play on the blindside. Marshall and Tiatia combined to put Sonny Parker racing home down the touchline, and the Wales centre showed blinding pace and strength to burst through the tackle of Jeremy Manning.

There was still time for Munster, Horan made a huge tackle on Gareth Owen, Ospreys infringed and Warwick landed an 83rd minute penalty.

Williams had a chance of a drop goal in the 10th minute of injury but it veered wide.