Phillips slides over

Neath-Swansea Ospreys started their EDF Energy Cup campaign in fine style, scoring seven tries in a 47-16 mauling of Worcester.

Lee Byrne and Shane Williams both crossed twice as the visitors produced some scintillating running rugby.

In contrast, the Warriors looked devoid of ideas going forward, too often relying on their pack to try and muscle through.

Their one and only try, scored by Craig Gillies, came courtesy of a clever crossfield kick from James Brown, although by then it was too late to salvage anything from another poor performance.

Sizeable lead

The game was as good as over by half time as the Ospreys, beaten finalists in the competition last year, opened up a sizeable lead.

It was a surprise it took the Magners League outfit 11 minutes to score, Byrne finally breaking the deadlock, and some weak tackling, after the away side had dominated early on.

Worcester only had themselves to blame for conceding a second shortly after, losing the ball from a scrum deep in their own half that culminated with Nicky Walker galloping over.

Williams also benefited from some sloppy defending to grab his first, two tacklers failing to get a grasp on the slippery winger after he had been picked out by James Hook with a kick to the touchline.

Worcester’s only reply in the opening half came through two Shane Drahm penalties, though they did brighten up immediately after the break.

However, all they had to show for their efforts was three points, and it was the Ospreys who grabbed the crucial fourth try of the contest.

Sonny Parker dived over from close range to kill off hopes of a home comeback despite his side being down to 14 following the sin-binning of skipper Filo Tiatia.

Spark

Brown came off the bench to provide a much-needed attacking spark, and it was his pin-point bomb to Gillies that got Worcester over the line at last.

At 28-16 the game was not over, but Ospreys clinically killed off their opponents with three tries in the closing stages.

Walker set up fellow winger Williams to complete his brace in the right corner before a clever move from a line-out left sub Mike Phillips with an easy run-in.

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Tags: Ospreys, Warriors

Posted on October 28th, 2007 by Klaus Roe
Filed under: Rugby Union