Ospreys (8) 11
Try: Collins Pens: Hook (2)
Leinster (6) 18
Pens: Sexton (5) DG: Nacewa
 Collins scored a try and was sin-binned in an eventful first half
|
Heineken Cup champions Leinster piled the pressure on beleaguered Ospreys with a hard-fought Magners League win.
Jerry Collins scored the only try but was then sin-binned, soon followed by Duncan Jones, the 13-man home side lucky not to concede a penalty try.
James Hook and Jonathan Sexton traded penalties as the Ospreys carried a one-point lead into the final quarter.
Isa Nacewa's drop goal after a Shane Williams error gave Leinster a crucial lead, Ospreys only claiming a bonus.
The home side started slowly in front of a Liberty Stadium crowd that was barely above the 7,000 who witnessed last week's miserable 16-20 defeat to Ulster.
 |
606: DEBATE
dean1c2
|
Opposing fly-halves Sexton and Hook exchanged penalties, before the latter's indecision under a high ball gifted the visitors a scrum under the posts.
The Ospreys' set piece had creaked badly last week, but with props Jones and Craig Mitchell drafted in the home eight held firm and the danger was cleared.
Sexton's second penalty took Leinster ahead after a Nikki Walker mistake, as the Irish side increased the pressure on the Ospreys' line.
A turnover and break-out led to a missed Hook penalty, but from a close-range line-out a strong forward maul saw Collins cross for his second try in two games for the Ospreys.
|
They've got some really big ball carriers and went through the phases, but we'd prepared all week for that
Man-of-the-match Jonathan Sexton
|
Hook missed the conversion, but Sexton was also proving profligate with the boot, missing two straightforward penalties.
The Leinster fly-half then made a delightful midfield break, only to be scythed down by returning Lions full-back Lee Byrne as he spurned a try-scoring pass to the supporting Shane Jennings.
With the pressure mounting, Collins cracked, the All Blacks flanker lashing out at the face of Sean O'Brien after he was pushed at a ruck.
Collins was sin-binned, Leinster taking advantage to win a scrum on the home side's line.
This time the Ospreys eight began to creak, Jones repeatedly going to ground as referee Peter Allan awarded the Irish a series of penalties.
After Jones went to ground for the third time he was sent to the sin bin, but Allan amazingly shied away from awarding a penalty try.
Paul James came on for Tom Smith and two more scrums on the new prop's side went to the floor.
To Leinster's amazement the penalty then went to the home side, the 13-man Ospreys consequently able to hang on to their 8-6 lead at the break.
Sexton and Hook exchanged penalties at the start of the second half, the latter's simple kick just sneaking over off the post to make the score 11-9 as Collins and Jones returned to the pitch.
Lions Mike Phillips, Alun Wyn Jones and Shane Williams were brought into the fray, the latter two making their first appearance since the summer tour.
Williams was a surprise late inclusion on the bench, but the wing's over-adventurous play in his own half led to a turnover, Leinster replacement Fergus McFadden only denied a try by Hook's fine cover tackle.
 Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson looks on in despair
|
The ball was quickly recycled in the shadow of the Ospreys' posts, and full-back Nacewa slotted over a drop-goal to give his side a one-point advantage.
As the Ospreys began to chase the game they gave away penalties, man-of-the-match Sexton landing two more kicks.
The Welsh side chased an equalising try in injury time, only to see captain Marty Holah aim a dreadful cross kick into the arms of the grateful defence with the last play of the game.
The sparse home crowd were streaming out long before that, the Ospreys having lost four of their last six at the Liberty Stadium and their last five showdowns with European kings Leinster.
Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton:
"It was a really tough game, we were probably defending for the majority of it.
"They've got some really big ball carriers and went through the phases, but we'd prepared all week for that.
"We manned up in the second half when we were up against it.
"It's tough to come to Wales and get a result. It's early season for the Ospreys, they've got a lot of players coming back and I'm sure they've got a strong side who will go well for the rest of the season."
Ospreys: Byrne, Bowe, Spratt, Bishop, Walker, Hook, Nutbrown, D. Jones, Bennett, Mitchell, Gough, Thomas, Collins, Holah, Smith.
Replacements: Williams for Bishop (55), Biggar for Hook (68), M. Phillips for Nutbrown (55), Hibbard for Bennett (68), A. Jones for Thomas (61), Tiatia for Smith (76). Not Used: James.
Leinster: Nacewa, Horgan, D'Arcy, Berne, D. Kearney, Sexton, Reddan, Healy, Fogarty, Wright, Hines, O'Kelly, McLaughlin, Jennings, O'Brien.
Replacements: McFadden for D. Kearney (65), Keane for Reddan (71), Jackman for Fogarty (63), Cullen for Hines (71), S. Keogh for McLaughlin (68). Not Used: McCormack, S. Keogh.
Att: 7,182
Ref: Peter Allan (SRFU).
- purchase isotretinoin - order isotretinoin online
- propecia with no prescription - order generic propecia online
- viagra bestellen - viagra kaufen
- cheap viagra online - order sildenafil online
- revia without prescription - order naltrexone online
No comments:
Post a Comment