Friday, January 1, 2010

Ospreys 26-0 Blues

Ospreys (13) 26
Tries: Walker (2), R Jones Conv: Biggar Pens: Biggar (2) DG: Biggar
Cardiff Blues (0) 0

Nikki Walker scores
Ospreys wing Nikki Walker opens the scoring with a 19th minute try

Nikki Walker's try double inspired the Ospreys to a convincing 26-0 triumph over the Cardiff Blues as the Ospreys go top of the Magners League table.

The Scottish wing continued his red hot scoring form as Walker twice clinically finished flowing first-half moves to notch up four tries in as many games.

Wales captain Ryan Jones capped a fine personal display with a try as young fly-half Dan Biggar kicked 11 points.

While the Blues failed to score points for the first time in three years.

The Ospreys extended their impressive home run against their big rivals - with one just defeat since regional rugby's inception - and the Liberty Stadium region stretched their winning run to five games.

But the only thing missing from the Ospreys' dominant display against a weakened Blues team - without Wales stars Jamie Roberts, Martyn Williams and Andy Powell - in snowy Swansea was a bonus point.

Dai Young's side - who missed two penalties and suffered the sin-binning of prop Gary Powell - were a shadow of the side that scored five tries and 39 unanswered second-half points in their 42-13 hammering of the Dragons on Sunday

Scott Johnson's team may have been without Wales pair Alun Wyn Jones and James Hook but were boosted by the return of Lions duo Adam Jones and Lee Byrne in their starting line-up.

And the hosts showed great defensive qualities to shut-out the Blues as the visitors ran out of attacking options while the Ospreys cut loose at will.

Man-of-the-match Biggar scored the first of his 11 points in the 11th minute, ironically, with a snap drop-goal from in front of the posts.

The Blues had a chance to level with a penalty after a scrum offence but Ben Blair pushed his place-kick wide of the right upright before Biggar did likewise three minutes later.

Walker scored a 19th minute breakthrough with an unconverted try after the hosts had turned over possession on the 22 with Ricky Januarie and Jonathan Thomas linking before Walker crashed over in the left corner.

Walker doubled his tally - and scored his sixth of the season - in the 31st minute after Biggar dashed through a gap at a scrum.

And with the Blues defence in disarray, the Ospreys backs put it through the hands before the wing went over back in his favoured left corner.

Biggar converted a penalty within the first two minutes of the restart before Blues full-back Blair saw his penalty rebound off the left post.

Blues tight-head Powell was then yellow-carded after a collapsed scrum as Biggar extended the lead from the resulting penalty.

The Ospreys capitalised as skipper Jones squeezed in at the left corner as the Blues fell fell to their first defeat against a Welsh region this season.

Ospreys: Byrne, Bowe, Parker, Bishop, Walker, Biggar, Januarie, James, Hibbard, A. Jones, Gough, J. Thomas, Collins, Holah, R. Jones. Replacements:
Owen for Biggar (74), 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: 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), 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).

Att: 14,476

Ref: James Jones (WRFU).

ะพ 8:06 AM

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