Streetwise Ospreys shatter Edinburgh’s title dreams

EDINBURGH’S dream of bringing the Magners League title to Scotland for the first time was clinically demolished by the streetwise Ospreys at Murrayfield.

Veteran Duncan Hodge controlled matters in the first quarter for Edinburgh with a variety of accurate kicks.

He was handed an opportunity to edge the Gunners in front in the seventh minute when they earned a penalty close to the halfway line.

The kick was advanced 10 metres because of backchat from Marshall, but Hodge’s effort drifted past the right-hand post.

Ben Cairns then burst into the contest with a 50-metre run which took the capital troops deep into enemy territory. The move was carried on by Argentinian Lucio Lopez-Fleming and they were awarded a penalty.

The anticipation of the home fans turned to frustration as they watched Ally Strokosch penalised for holding on to the ball too long after a quick tap and dash by Cairns.

It was an all-action end to the half. Edinburgh powered in front with a 25th-minute touchdown by utility forward Matt Mustchin.

Lopez-Fleming inflicted the initial damage with a long arcing run before being felled by a high challenge.

From the penalty line-out, Mustchin broke away and wheeled over the line, reaching full stretch to place the ball down. Hodge banged over the conversion.

Then came a stirring reply from the Ospreys. First the ball was flashed across the field for Jonny Vaughton to finish in style.

The score acted as a real spur to the visitors and it was no surprise when flanker Steve Tandy picked up a simple second try when he was left unmarked on the left.

Edinburgh’s problems intensified six minutes after the restart when former Springboks star Stefan Terblanche stretched their lead with a penalty.

Terblanche returned to the spotlight almost instantly to effectively seal the fate of the Gunners. It was another Murrayfield tale of woe for Phil Godman.

Less than a week after his blunder paved the way for Italy’s shock Test win, his insipid challenge allowed Sonny Parker to make a clean break before giving the scoring pass.

Jason Spice slotted the conversion to leave Edinburgh trailing by 13 points with time slipping by.

Marshall then turned on the pace and power to make sure of the valuable bonus point.

Cairns clawed back a touchdown for the hosts — but the Ospreys had the last word when Huw Bennett ploughed over.

Scorers: Edinburgh: Tries: Mustchin, Cairns. Cons: Hodge. Ospreys: Tries: Vaughton, Tandy, Terblanche, Marshall, Bennett. Cons: Spice. Pens: Terblanche.

Edinburgh: Warnock, Dey (McCall 66), Cairns, Jorgensen (Godman 50), Lopez Fleming, Hodge, Laidlaw (Senio 58), Jacobsen, Kelly, G. Cross (Hewett 74), Mustchin, Bentley (Rennie 69), Strokosch, MacDonald, S. Cross (Pringle 55).

Ospreys: Terblanche, Vaughton (Walker 69), Parker, Bishop, Mustoe, Spice (Jones 78), Marshall, James (D. Jones 58), B. Williams (Bennett 54) , Jones (Griffiths 62), Cockbain, Thomas, Lloyd (Powell 72), Tandy, Tiatia (Smith 78).

Ref: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).