Impressive Ospreys survive late Munster comeback

NS Ospreys 33 Munster 26

Munster may have scored one more try than their hosts at St Helen’s tonight, but superb kicking from Neath’s Gavin Henson, who kicked eighteen points, saw the Ospreys deserved winners at the end of a frenetic game.

This ranks as Alan Gaffney’s second loss in the Celtic League, and it’s double defeat to the Welsh following September 12th’s home loss to the Llanelli Scarlets at Thomond Park.

They started the better however when full-back Jeremy Staunton crossed unopposed for an early try, before centre James Storey gathered Shaun Connor’s cross-field kick and stretch over the line on six minutes. Both tries were converted, and Tongan Dave Tiueti was soon celebrating as he put Neath ominously into the lead, with their second try.

Henson added the conversion and the second of his penalties to open up a 20-7 gap after half-an-hour. With a nod to the Irish selectors, flanker David Wallace steamed over in the corner, following a neat incision by winger Mossie Lawlor in the Ospreys’ midfield. Henson’s third penalty kick was successful soon after and brought the half to an end, at 23-12.

A 47th minute try from scrum-half Andy Williams looked to have sealed an impressive Neath win, but Munster sought out a miraculous comeback, with their forwards coming more and more into the proceedings. Some staunch Welsh defence kept them at bay until the final fifteen minutes when centre Mike Mullins edged over for a converted try, to slash the deficit to eleven points.

A deft midfield move saw Staunton claim his second try in the dying minutes, but the seven minutes of injury time brought no further scores.

Ospreys: G Henson; D Tiueti, J Storey, S Gibbs (capt), E Seveali'l; S Connor, A Williams; P James, B Williams, A Millward, A Newman, L Tait, G Thomas, J Bater, N Bonner-Evans.

Replacements: G Morris, A Durston, R Richards, C Wells, S Tandy, L Bateman, C Griffiths.

Munster: J Staunton; S Payne, M Mullins, J Jones-Hughes, M Lawlor; C O'Sullivan, E Reddan; S Kerr, J Flannery, M Cahill, E Halvey, D Pusey, D Leamy, D Wallace, J Williams.

Replacements: F Roche, J Danaher, T Hogan, C McMahon, S Keogh, M Prendergast, M McPhail, D Crotty.

Referee: Tony Rowlands (Treorchy)

Ospreys 33: Tries: Storey, Tiueti, A Williams. Cons: Henson 3. Pens: Henson 4.

Munster 26: Tries: Staunton 2, Wallace, Mullins. Cons: O'Sullivan, Staunton 2.

Att: 5,000