Ospreys beat Cardiff to top Magners League
Byrne got the Ospreys' first try of the match
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Wednesday, 31, Dec 2008 05:54
The Ospreys have finished the year on top of the Magners League following a 16-12 win over Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.
A late try from Filo Tiatia gave the Ospreys the win after the boots of Ben Blair and Nick Robinson had edged the hosts in front.
The Ospreys moved one points ahead of Munster in the table, although they have now played one game more than the Irish side, while Cardiff are third-bottom of the table.
Blair put Cardiff ahead thanks to a penalty after just two minutes but the Ospreys responded with a penalty of their own through Daniel Biggar three minutes later.
Both players then missed chances to put their teams in front before Blair finally landed his second kick of the game.
Ospreys had looked the side most likely to get a try in the first half and so it was no surprise when Welsh international Lee Byrne finally crossed the whitewash.
Biggar used his agility to fend-off some would-be tacklers and fed Tommy Bowe who in turn set up Byrne for the try.
Cardiff tried to bounce back as Leigh Halfpenny, on for the injured Blair, danced his way through the Ospreys defence but was held up a metre short of the line.
However, Robinson got a drop-goal just before the break to ensure the home side enjoyed a narrow 9-8 lead at half-time.
The Blues extended their lead at the start of the second period when Tom James broke 60 metres up field only to be illegally stopped by Byrne.
He received a yellow card for the challenge and Robinson slotted home the resulting penalty to give Cardiff a 12-8 lead.
A long-range penalty from second half substitute James Hook reduced the Ospreys' arrears with 20 minutes to go and when Byrne returned from the sin bin they put Cardiff under extreme pressure as they pushed for the win.
The Blues' resolve finally failed with five minutes to go when a long pass from Hook found Tiatia on the left wing and the New Zealander dived over for the winning score.