Friday, October 30, 2009

Ospreys 9-9 Glasgow Warriors

Ospreys (6) 9
Pens: Owen 3
Glasgow (3) 9
Pens: Parks 3

By Gareth Roberts

Gareth Owen
Gareth Owen takes on the Glasgow defence at Liberty Stadium

The Ospreys and Glasgow fought out an uninspiring Magners League draw in dreadful conditions at Liberty Stadium.

Home fly-half Gareth Owen kicked two first-half penalties to rival Dan Parks' single opening period shot.

Owen added a third seven minutes after the break, but the Warriors fought back for Parks to level in the 65th minute with his third on-target penalty.

The hosts' Scotland wing Nikki Walker departed after a heavy blow to the head in the 32nd minute.

There was a late change to the Ospreys line-up when Marty Holah pulled a hamstring in the warm-up and was replaced by Steve Tandy.

It provided another personnel problem for the hosts, who were already without 10 players on international duty and another 13 on the casualty list.

Tactical kicking and determined chasing largely defined both sides' efforts throughout the opening period and that was also how the second-half went.

The hosts received the better rewards for that approach early on as Owen kicked two penalties to Parks' single effort, although the visiting fly-half also missed a late first-half chance chance to level.

Owen kicked penalties in the 12th and 25th minutes with Parks sending his shot between the posts in between the Ospreys' fly-half's efforts.

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There was a lot of honest endeavour on display throughout with ex-All Black Jerry Collins setting a good example for the hosts with his industry.

But the impact of another ex-New Zealand international, Filo Tiatia also had a telling effect, particularly on his Ospreys team-mate, Scotland wing Nikki Walker.

The two players accidentally clashed heads as they attempted a tackle and Walker came of worst, requiring oxygen while on the field.

However, who is soon due to meet up with his Scotland colleagues for pre-November Tests training, Walker was soon on his feet and later appeared on the Ospreys bench, albeit with prominent stitching on his right cheekbone.

In the 33rd minute full-back Barry Davies' burst almost led to hooker Richard Hibbard going over, but he was deemed to have fallen short of the line.

Glasgow often had the Ospreys' scrum in trouble as youthful props Cai Griffiths and Ryan Bevington found themselves under pressure.

However, the hosts managed to thwart the threats posed by Glasgow at that phase and five minutes after the break Owen extended his side's lead.

After the break the Ospreys also had veteran centre Sonny Parker to thank for the out-stretched arm that brought pacy Glasgow wing Thom Evans down.

Seven minutes after the break Owen stretched his side's lead with his third penalty.

Glasgow fought back to earn a brace of penalties Parks kicked by the 65th minute, bringing a justified reward for the visitors' determination to match the hosts.

Owen led a break-out that brought another attempt at goal after Tiatia was held down after a tackle.

But he failed with that 67th-minute shot and despite having the better chances as time wore on the visitors were unable to claim a vital winning score.

Owen narrowly failed with a long-range drop-goal attempt and after making a break down the touchline, wing Tommy Bowe could not find support.

Ospreys: B Davies; Bowe, Parker, Bishop, Walker; Owen, L Davies, Bevington, Hibbard, Griffiths, Gough, Tiata, Collins, Tandy, Smith. Replacements: N Thomas for Walker (38), Wells for L Davies (69).
Not Used: Shervington, R Davies, Spratt, K Phillips.

Glasgow: Stortoni; Shaw, M Evans, Morrison, T Evans; Parks, Cusiter, Welsh, Hall, Low, Gray, Kellock, Brown, Barclay, Beattie. Replacements: Gregor for Stortoni (66), O'Hare for Shaw (74), McMillan for Cusiter (60), Tkachuk for Welsh (60), Thomson for Hall (69), Turner for Kellock (57), Vernon for Beattie (56).

Att: 6,661

Ref: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland).

ะพ 10:52 AM

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