Sunday 10 May 2015 20:00, UK
Dan Biggar guided Ospreys to a vital 21-10 win over Pro12 rivals Glasgow on Friday night.
Tries from Ben John and Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb gave Ospreys a threatening position, but it was the experienced boot of Biggar that kept the visiting Glasgow side at bay throughout the encounter at the Liberty Stadium.
The win puts Ospreys at the top of the Pro12 table, ahead of second-place Glasgow on points difference.
The game started in frenetic fashion, with both teams giving the ball plenty of width, while poor execution of final passes and good defence kept both teams sides form scoring.
In particular Niko Matawalu, playing on the wing for Glasgow, created plenty of opportunities when the ball was kicked deep by Ospreys.
Glasgow opened the scoring with a penalty early in the game from the boot of Duncan Weir, but Ospreys appeared to have hit back when Dan Biggar crossed the line. The video referee was called into play and ruled that he had not grounded the ball.
Biggar left the field with a head knock from the act of attempting to score, which meant it was up to full-back Dan Evans to step up and claim three points when Glasgow were penalised at the resulting 5m scrum. With his kick the scores were level.
The score stayed 3-3 throughout the remainder of the first half, and it was Ospreys who came out firing after the break. First with three points from the returning Biggar, then with quick hands from the forwards which unleashed Josh Matavesi down the right side of the pitch.
Matavesi drew the final defender before firing an inside ball to John who crossed the line for the home side. Biggar’s attempted conversion bounced off the post.
Ospreys were soon back in action when a superbly-executed lineout move put Webb through the middle. The Wales international chipped over the last defender and collected his kick to cap an impressive solo try and take his side to a 18-3 lead with a quarter of the game remaining.
Glasgow hit back in the 62nd minute with a driving lineout which Ospreys failed to negotiate, with a powerful move paving the way for Chris Fusaro to dot down. The conversion from Weir cut the lead to eight points.
Ospreys were able to extend their lead through Biggar’s boot after Glasgow were penalised at the scrum, giving his side what ended up being an unassailable 21-10 lead to take a vital win in the penultimate round of Pro12 fixtures.
