Ospreys back to top of League

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 39 Cardiff Blues 3

Fly-half Gavin Henson bagged 19 points as Neath-Swansea Ospreys surged back to the top of the Celtic League.

After starring in the win over Llanelli Scarlets a week earlier, Henson was again in inspired form in the Ospreys’ five-try triumph.

The home side dominated from the whistle at The Gnoll with the Blues rarely threatening to upset the momentum of Lyn Jones’ confident side.

With Henson pulling the strings from fly-half and Sonny Parker and Shane Williams a constant threat, the Ospreys cut loose after half-time to claim a deserved bonus point.

It was Henson who was first on the scoreboard with a 10th-minute penalty and the Wales international then played a key role in the game’s first try by prop Duncan Jones.

It was Henson’s switch with half-back partner Jason Spice which created space out wide and with no Cardiff cover to be seen Jones was on hand to coast over.

Henson converted before Cardiff fly-half Lee Thomas claimed his side’s only points with a 26th-minute penalty.

The visitors’ woes continued when full-back Rhys Williams was carried off on a stretcher with a shoulder injury, but there was still time before the interval for Henson to add a second penalty to make it 13-3 at the break, despite having Spice sin-binned late on.

It was all over for the Blues 15 minutes into the second half when the Ospreys claimed their second try.

Wing Shane Williams missed with a sharp drop-goal attempt, only for Blues replacement Nick Macleod to allow the ball to bounce and centre David Bishop appeared under his nose to touch down.

Henson’s conversion made it 20-3 and the Ospreys were suddenly scenting a bonus point.

Scrum-half Jason Spice pounced for try number three following more Ospreys’ pressure before Henson side-stepped over for a superb solo try.

Parker then raced clear for the fifth to complete Cardiff’s misery.