Ospreys breeze past Blues
The Ospreys produced a scintillating second-half performance as they made it two wins out of two with a 32-10 victory over the Blues.
Last Updated: 10/09/08 9:59pm
The Ospreys produced a scintillating second-half performance to maintain their unbeaten start to the Magners League campaign with a convincing 32-10 victory over derby rivals the Blues at the Liberty Stadium.
The match had been too close to call at half-time until the Ospreys racked up an incredible 27 unanswered points in 25 second-half minutes - James Hook contributing 22 of those to help the hosts to a bonus-point win.
With the two regions in the middle of a tough spell of three games in eight days, there were changes on both sides. The Ospreys made seven from the team which won at Connacht and the Blues named nine changes following their 16-16 draw with Leinster.
It took wing wizard Shane Williams just four minutes to stamp his authority on the contest, sprinting in for an unconverted try down the right flank after neat play from full-back Lee Byrne.
At the other end the Ospreys showed some well-organised defence to stop three concerted Blues attacks into their own 22.
The Blues were eventually rewarded for their territorial dominance on the stroke of half time as Ben Blair atoned for his earlier penalty miss to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Brilliant
But the match did not come alive until the second half. An impressive run by Fio Tiatia set up dangerous territory from where Hook planted a 48th-minute penalty goal.
But 8-3 became 11-3 three minutes later as Hook found his range again when the Blues strayed offside.
Hook completed 13 unanswered points in five minutes when he was on hand to run in and convert the Ospreys' second try after a brilliant run by Byrne as the home side's lead increased to 18-3.
The game was all but over when a Hook crosskick was kicked ahead and picked up by Tommy Bowe to go over for try number three converted by Hook. Those 20 points had come in just nine minutes.
And Hook was put across for his second try by Ospreys new scrum-half signing Jamie Nutbrown on 72 minutes to register a bonus point.
In injury time Aled Brew crossed for a converted try to give the scoreline some respectability, however the Blues remain winless after the opening two Magners League fixtures.
