AIB League/Ospreys 26 Cardiff Blues 0:THE OSPREYS moved back to the top of the Magners League with an emphatic win last night at a snowy Liberty Stadium. Outhalf Dan Biggar gave the Ospreys the lead with a drop goal and controlled the game with a growing confidence.
The Blues started brightly with Casey Laulala and Sam Norton-Knight showing neat touches, but with most scrums ending in free-kicks or penalties the game stagnated. The Ospreys exploited their forward power and their Scotland wing, Nikki Walker, scored the first try on 20 minutes after Andrew Bishop had forced a turnover from Ben Blair in the Blues 22. Walker crossed again after Biggar broke from a scrum and released his outside backs. The Blues were fortunate to only trail 13-0 at the break as Tom Shanklin limped off after 33 minutes.
Biggar kicked two penalties in the opening minutes of the second half and Blair hit the post with a 40-yard attempt before Blues prop Gary Powell was shown a yellow card for collapsing. After yet another scrum penalty, Ryan Jones scored in the left-hand corner to put his side out of sight.
OSPREYS: Byrne, Bowe, Parker, Bishop, Walker, Biggar, Januarie, James, Hibbard, A. Jones, Gough, J. Thomas, Collins, Holah, R. Jones. Replacements: Owen for Biggar (74 mins), Nutbrown for Januarie (62), Bennett for Hibbard (53), Griffiths for A. Jones (58), Evans for Gough (62), Tiatia for Collins (69). Not Used: Spratt.
CARDIFF BLUES: Cardiff Blues: Blair, Mustoe, Laulala, Shanklin, T. James, Norton-Knight, Rees, Jenkins, T. Thomas, G. Powell, Davies, Morgan, Warburton, Sowden-Taylor, Rush. Replacements: Sweeney for Blair (69 mins), G Thomas for Shanklin (30), Cooper for Rees (69), G. Williams for T. Thomas (61), Filise for G. Powell (63), Tito for Davies (53), White for Sowden-Taylor (41).
Referee: J Jones (WRFU).
