JUST ANOTHER TRIUMPH
12 December 2003 - Neath-Swansea Ospreys 16 Edinburgh Rugby 32
Mike Brearley, the famously cerebral England cricket captain, was once batting in a test match in Australia. Lillee and Thomson were bowling at the speed of light in a very sincere attempt to knock his head off. In between deliveries, "Brears", so the story goes, tried to interest Aussie wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh in a little polite conversation. "What d'you think this is?" replied the great man "A @&*#@!?/ tea party?"
Australians are straightforward folk. They like to tell it like it is. And they like to win. Nathan Hines, Edinburgh's own Ozzo-Scot is cut from the same cloth. Now a key part of the national team as well as the Edinburgh XV, he brings a hard edge to the pack, as well as no little ball-playing talent.
And "Wagga" was a prime mover behind another Edinburgh win in Wales last night. Whereas the Gunners had gone down all guns blazing in an exciting contest at The Gnoll in October, this time they flayed their feathered friends from the Principality at St Helens. And the flight home the following morning was on time. What more could you ask for?
The Ospreys have blown hot and cold this season, and came into the game on the back of a run of five defeats. Their selection of Gareth Llewellyn, veteran international lock, on the blindside, suggested a tight game plan to grind out a win. With torrential rain and high winds battering South Wales throughout the day, and throughout the game, the only place to put a rugby ball on such a filthy night was indeed up the jumper.
Erm, no. After a stuttering start by both sides, Edinburgh were soon into their rhythm playing their usual expansive game. Laney and Blair had a couple of useful breaks, before a Paterson break - the first of many - put Di Rollo away. Only a last-ditch tackle kept the centre out. The score was 3-3 on 20 minutes, Paterson and Connor having exchanged penalties.
Early in the second quarter, another super break by Blair off the back of a scrum fed Hall who sped off into the home 22. The move broke down after a deliberate Osprey knock-on inside their 22. The Gunners, playing into a strong wind, chose to go for touch, setting up a driving maul which inched over the line after what seemed like an age, Blackadder flopping over for the unconverted try.
The rest of the half was all Edinburgh, with searing breaks from Southwell, Di Rollo, and Lee, among others. Hugo was almost away after the Gunners backs repeated the loop move that had brought Lee his first try against the Celtic Warriors a fortnight before. The back three were looking safe under the high ball, the pack were comfortable in the tight and dynamic in the loose, and Edinburgh's handling in atrocious conditions was first rate.
The pressure told as the half came to a close, with a Lee break coming close. The ball was spun quickly across from the breakdown, and "Jackie" Joiner nudged a lovely grubber through the onrushing defence and followed up smartly to notch his third try of the season under the post. Paterson's conversion made the half-time score 18-3 Edinburgh.
The Ospreys changed from black to white shirts at half-time, but it was the same story on the park. Shortly after Connor had pulled back a penalty, they knocked on on halfway. The ball was shipped to Paterson and he produced one of his trademark mazy runs to cruise over for the try from a long way out. It was a score reminiscent of Laney's against Connacht, with the stand-off seeming to have all the time in the world, leaving desperate tacklers trailing in his wake.
Young Southwell clearly relishes playing against the Ospreys, having scored a peach of a try at The Gnoll. He finished this contest shortly afterwards with a neatly taken try after Edinburgh had again gone for touch from a kickable penalty and taken a maul close. Paterson's conversion took the score to 32-6 Gunners. More importantly, the fourth try gave Edinburgh a bonus point. Both tries were scored while Hines was in the sin-bin for lazy running that was just a bit too lazy for the referee's liking.
This was the cue for wholesale changes to the Gunners team, with Di Ciacca, Mathieson, Warnock, Dall, and Kellock getting some game time. Particularly pleasing was the sight of Ali Dickson coming on for his first action since his injury against the Borders. The Ospreys did pull back two late tries, to make the final score 32-16, but this was a comprehensive win for the Gunners. They looked an assured side, and are coming into form nicely for the Celtic Cup final.
So far so good. Four tough European games remain for the Gunners, but two of those will be at home, and Captain Blackadder's men must be satisfied with their Heineken campaign so far. For now, they top their group, one win clear of Toulouse. They will be determined not to let this good start go to waste.
Only one week to go before the Gunners take on Ulster in the Celtic Cup final at Murrayfield. Tickets can be bought in advance either through the www.edinburghrugby.com or by calling . See you there.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
SCOTT MURRAY was announced as the Heineken man of the match, but NATHAN HINES' number was called out. Given that they were both key factors in a fine performance from the Gunners' pack, we'll split the difference.
Read Bill Lothian's verdict in the Evening News: http://www.sport.scotsman.com/rugby_superteams.cfm
Scorers: Edinburgh: Paterson 1T 2P 3C, Joiner 1T, Southwell 1T, Blackadder 1T
Ospreys Connor 2P 1C, Tuieti 1T, Gibbs 1T
Edinburgh team: Lee; Joiner, Di Rollo, Laney, Southwell; Paterson, Blair; Jacobsen, Hall, Smith, Hines, Murray, Blackadder, Hogg, Taylor Replacements: Di Ciacca, Mathieson, Kellock, Dall, Burns, Warnock, Dickson
Ospreys team: Durston; Terblanche, Tuieti, Gibbs, S Williams; Connor, Williams; Millward, Bennett, Jones, Newman, Tait, Llewellyn, G Thomas, J Thomas Replacements: B Williams, P Jones, Bonner-Evans, Tandy, Horgan, M Jones, Seveali'I
Referee: D Pearson (England)
It's still raining in Swansea.