Border Telegraph | Sport | Crucial bonus could prove vital in Cup

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 22nd February, 2006 10:32

Crucial bonus could prove vital in Cup

By Border Telegraph Sport

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 22, Border Reivers 18

TWO late tries from Jonny Weston and Callum MacRae earned the Border Reivers a losing bonus point on Friday night, a point that could be crucial when it comes to Heineken Cup places at the end of the season.

Glasgow’s surprise win over Munster has cut the gap to one point between the sides in the race for a place in the top competition.

It was scrappy game, full of errors, and the only polish came from British Lion Gavin Henson, who contributed 14 of his side’s points on his comeback after suspension as he staked a claim for a place in the Welsh 6 Nations squad.

Henson, banned for 51 weeks for elbowing a Leicester opponent, was the spark on a night where mistakes were frequent and neither side was able to make any impact in front of a 6000 crowd.

The Reivers can take credit for a fightback which saw Weston, who had replaced Brendan McKerchar, dart through a gap for a try before MacRae snatched a second to give the Reivers a lift when the game seemed lost.

Henson kicked Ospreys ahead in three minutes with a penalty from 30 metres after Reivers were punished for handling the ball on the ground.

Charlie Hore missed an opportunity to put his side in a strong attacking position, but the stand-off made amends when he pulled his team level with a 12th-minute penalty.

Ospreys were soon back on the front foot with Henson at the heart of every attack. Only a superb tackle by Ben MacDougall denied the Ospreys.

And it was against the run of play as Hore kicked his second penalty to put Reivers in front, but the lead was short-lived. From the kick-off, MacDougall turned villain, gve away a penalty and Henson kicked the equalising penalty.

Ospreys took control and only a double tackle by Hore and McKerchar denied Richie Pugh a try.

Ospreys were on top without being commanding and Shaun Connor dropped goal to put Ospreys back in front.

The Borders defence was stretched, but could not prevent Andrew Bishop taking Henson’s pass after some slick handling by the forwards.

Reivers at last got some momentum going and Nikki Walker and then Andy Miller were held up short while Stevie Scott failed to take advantage.

Almost inevitably, Henson added to the Ospreys lead with his fourth penalty.

Reivers looked dead and buried, but there is a lot of spirit in this squad and they salvaged pride, and a point, thanks to Weston and then MacRae. Hore converted one.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys – G. Henson; S. Terblanche, A. Bishop, S. Parker and R.Mustoe; S. Connor and J. Spice; C. Griffiths, H. Bennett, A. Millward, A. Newman, L. Bateman, J. Thomas, R. Pugh. J. Bater.

Border Reivers – C. MacRae; S. Moffat, B. MacDougall, G. Law and N. Walker; C. Hore and B. McKerchar; P. Thomson, S. Scott, G. Cross, S. MacLeod, O. Palepoi, K. Brown, A. Rennick and A. Miller. Subs used: J. Dalziel, J. Weston.

Social Bookmarking What are these?