Bourgoin test Ospreys

Ospreys got their Heineken Cup campaign off to a winning start after recording a 22-15 victory against Bourgoin, with the French club presenting a sterner than expected test for the star-studded Magners League side.

With all 15 Ospreys players taking to the field having received international recognition, many predicted a bonus point victory for the home side, who had scored 98 points in their previous two games.

Bourgoin had lost all six of their pool games in the corresponding stage of last year's competition and continued the trend - but were nevertheless able to register a bonus point for their efforts.

With James Hook kicking 14 points for the home side, it was Gavin Henson's try which, in the event, proved the difference between the two sides.

Concern

But Ospreys may be concerned by their inability to secure all five points on offer - all the more so given Pool Two rivals Gloucester's impressive win at Ulster 24 hours earlier.

After Bourgoin were penalised at the ruck, Hook kicked Ospreys ahead with a penalty after four minutes.

But the visitors immediately started to find their feet and produce some fine running rugby - Matthieu Nicolas almost going over in the right-hand corner.

Indeed, Bourgoin were largely in the ascendancy in the opening minutes, with Ospreys' defence scrambling to keep flanker Mark Rennie from going over.

Nevertheless, Ospreys increased their advantage to six points midway through the opening period when Hook kicked his second penalty.

And they then issued the best possible response to their opponents stylish play with a try on 27 minutes - a fine inside pass from Justin Marshall to Lee Byrne finished off when Shane Williams put Henson over.

Bourgoin then placed their first points on the board with a Sebastien Laloo penalty, earned following an illegal tackle by Filo Tiatia - the Ospreys captain also being sin-binned.

Hook then gained his hat-trick, but Laloo was once again on hand, with the net result being a 16-6 lead for Ospreys at half time.

Controversy

Ospreys were still one man short at the start of the second period, and Bourgoin took advantage with a Benjamin Boyet penalty; however, Ospreys regained their 10-point advantage with Hook's fourth penalty of the evening.

The contest's only real moment of controversy occurred when Bourgoin thought that Jean-Francois Coux had touched down in the left-hand corner. But the TMO disagreed and the try was disallowed.

Hook and Boyet again swapped penalties just past the hour, with the latter's third of the evening subsequently confirming a bonus point for Bourgoin.