Hook inspires Ospreys to big win over Cardiff
Tuesday, 09 Sep 2008 22:07
James Hook was in fine form against Cardiff Blues
Fly-half James Hook was in sensational form as he guided the Ospreys to a thumping 32-10 win over the Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium.
The Welsh wizard scored two tries, kicked two penalties and three conversions as the Ospreys climbed to the top of the Magners Leauge.
The Ospreys earned a bonus point with further tries from Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe. The best it got for the Blues was a penalty try.
A lot of the star players from both sides were missing due to the mindless Magners League fixture schedule which sees both teams playing three games in the space of a week. But with the likes of Williams and Hook on their side, the Ospreys always looked the classier outfit.
It was Six Nations superstar Williams who opened the scoring after he collected a wonderful reverse pass from Lee Byrne to sprint clear for the try. The winger should have grabbed his second try only moments later, but he dropped the ball in the wet conditions when he had a free run for the tryline.
The conditions were especially bad in the first-half and both teams found it difficult to play free-flowing rugby. Ben Blair scored a penalty for the Blues as they went in only a couple of points behind.
It was completely one-way traffic in the second-half as Hook turned on the style. The fly-half kicked two early penalties, before more good work from Byrne allowed Hook to score his first try.
Bowe then scored the try of the match as he chipped the ball over the head of Blair before collecting the ball on the other end and touching down for a superb try. Hook was again successful with his conversion attempt.
Hook then secured the bonus point with his second try of the match, before Cardiff got a late consolation penalty try.