SCOTLAND'S 35TH MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR SEES GUNNERS STRIKE OUT
Edinburgh Rugby: 15 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 31
It has been a mixed week for rugby in these parts. The national team put in a promising second half performance against the Wallabies after a disastrous first period. And while the Gunners lost tonight to the visiting league leaders, legendary Murrayfield microphone maestro, Ian Turner, was recently voted the 35th most eligible bachelor in Scotland by a certain high quality national newspaper from the same stable as Gunners' sponsor the "Evening News". A glance at some of the names around the great man might lead some uncharitable observers to think of the words "bottom" and "barrel", but you've got to be in it to win it.
Last season's games between these teams were split two wins apiece. In the first clash, at The Gnoll, Gavin Henson and the Ospreys blitzed the Gunners in an amazing third quarter. Even then, Hugo had hinted at his burgeoning talent with a superbly taken individual try. And in the first Heineken game, the Gunners made light of the monsoon conditions in Swansea to chuck the ball around with abandon to run out comfortable bonus point winners in a game that set them on their way to qualification for the quarters.
This evening's game was perhaps not quite as entertaining, due to the absence of a number of internationals on both sides. But it was certainly exciting.
Throughout history, of course, the Scots have been great scientists and inventors. Television, penicillin, the telephone. Your back row spending an entire game offside? Yes, that was us too. In a touching tribute to many great Scots past and present, the Ospreys' defensive line spent most of tonight in the same territory, bringing a tear to the eye of many veteran spectators as they reminisced about the good old days.
Quibbling about the application of the laws of the game aside, though, the Ospreys were worthy of their win. While the Gunners had the lion's share of the ball and the territory, it was the Ospreys who were clinical when it came to taking their chances. They defended cleverly, dominated the lineout, and handled beautifully. In short, they looked like league leaders, while the Gunners again found little errors at crucial times spoiled much good work. In addition, the word "safe" was rarely heard in the same sentence as "high ball" when Edinburgh were defending, as the back three had a bit of an off night.
The game had got off to a good start for the home team, though, with the Gunners looking lively. A snap dropped goal by Connor against the run of play on six minutes was answered with a great Webster try. From broken play on half way, a cute inside pass from the skipper set Webbo on a jink inside, then he streaked out down the wing to beat the covering Connor with something to spare for the unconverted touchdown. He looked dangerous whenever he had the ball, and it will be a surprise if he does not find himself back in the national squad before too long.
Five minutes later, a strong breenge by Callam deep into the enemy 22 set up a good attacking position, but a forward pass wasted the chance. At the end of the quarter, a brilliant intercept by Alasdair Dickinson - who had a storming game in tight and loose - on halfway saw the Under-21 cap rumble at pace into the 22, offloading nicely to the supporting Brannigan, but the Gunners were called for crossing after the breakdown.
And it was all Gunners until good Ospreys disruption at the back of an Edinburgh scrum set up Jones for a penalty on the half hour. The home side had really needed to turn their pressure into points, but a simple Newman try off the back of a lineout allowed the Ospreys to open up a 13-5 half time lead.
But things were looking up from the opening kick off of the second period when Godman kicked a penalty for holding on. Sadly, Jones restored the margin with a dropped goal two minutes later, and in a scrappy third quarter, he slotted another penalty before the Ospreys scored their second try. It didn't make pretty viewing for the home crowd, but it was a cracker, with an excellent Osprey breakout off an intercepted pass feeding Jones, who cleverly kicked behind the Gunners' defence for Terblanche to touch down.
Although having an unhappy time of it in the lineout, the Gunners pack were mauling well, and they spent the next minutes camped on the Ospreys' line, only being kept out by fair means and foul. After one of the latter, scrum half Spice was binned for deliberately taking a maul down as Edinburgh were about to rumble over. Yet the Gunners still could not get the score they needed. Insult was added to injury when Brew crashed over for the try just as the power play was ending, and the game was out of sight.
Both sides then threw caution to the wind in injury time, with Godman's flat pass sending Joiner through the gap for the converted try that took the final score to a frustrating 31-15 defeat. This was a game that Edinburgh could have won, and they will be kicking themselves again that handling errors and a lack of control in the lineout prevented them pressing home the advantage when they had it in the first half.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Visiting stand-off MATTHEW JONES, an accolade that seemed to mean almost as much to him as if he had been voted the 35th most eligible bachelor in Scotland by a certain high quality national newspaper from the same stable as Gunners' sponsor the "Evening News".
SCORERS:
Edinburgh: Godman 1P 1C, Webster 1T, Joiner 1T
Ospreys: Jones 2C 1P, 1DG, Newman 1T, Terblanche 1T, Brew 1T Connor 1DG
TEAMS:
Edinburgh: D Lee; C Joiner, M Di Rollo, M Dey, S Webster; P Godman, R Lawson; A Dickinson, D Hall, J Brannigan, F Pringle, A Kellock, T Blackadder (capt), A MacDonald, D Callam. Replacements: A Kelly, G Anderson, A Strokosch, C Harrison, J Blackwood, A Monro, P Boston.
Ospreys: A Durston; S Terblanche, D Bishop, E Seveali'i, A Brew; M Jones, J Spice; P James, B Williams (capt), A Millward, A Newman, L Bateman, J Bater, S Tandy, N Bonner-Evans. Replacements: H Bennett, C Griffiths, L Tait, R Pugh, R Rees, S Connor, D Tiueti.
Referee: Keane (IRFU), who, as far as can be ascertained, has never been voted the 35th most eligible bachelor in Scotland by a certain high quality national newspaper from the same stable as Gunners' sponsor the "Evening News". Or anywhere else, for that matter.