Ospreys scrape past Blues

Ospreys 18 Cardiff Blues 16

Replacement flanker Richie Pugh grabbed the Ospreys a dramatic late Magners League victory over the Blues with a try a minute from normal time at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

The Blues had looked on course to preserve their 100% Celtic record with Nicky Robinson providing all 16 points as they led three times.

But the visitors were guilty of conceding three soft tries to their hosts.

Cardiff had shaded the first-half going in at the interval 13-10 up, but they had to come from behind after being stung by a controversial Shane Williams try.

After Ospreys full-back Lee Byrne appeared to knock-on, Williams re-gathered and cruised in down the right touchline, though he should have been tackled by Blues lock Deiniol Jones.

But Robinson set his side on their way with 10 unanswered points.

A penalty goal was followed a minute later by a try which Robinson started and finished with a cross-kick to wing Mosese Luveitasau, who sent the Blues outside-half in.

The Blues lost Wales hooker Rhys Thomas through injury and a minute later had conceded a soft try from a five-metre scrum scored by Ospreys number eight Ryan Jones.

But in the last minute of normal time Robinson ended an accomplished first-half by banging over a dropped-goal.

Williams lit up the start of the second half as he did the first with a searching counter-attack down the right which almost produced a candidate for try of the season before Sonny Parker knocked on two metres from the line.

The Ospreys went closest to scoring in the third quarter when a Justin Marshall kick across the line just evaded Williams.

It took until the 63rd minute for the first second-half score when Gavin Henson broke his duck to fire over a 25-metre penalty to level the scores on 13-13.

The Blues suffered a second injury to a hooker when replacement number two Duane Goodfield had to go off with a cut eye meaning prop Gary Powell was forced to come on in the middle of the front row.

But despite their pack problems, the visitors were sent back into the lead by a second Robinson dropped-goal seven minutes ahead of normal time.

Just as the Blues were about to celebrate a famous victory, Robinson went from hero to villain as his up and under was claimed by Pugh who dashed in at the right corner.