Blues tied up by Bowe
The Ospreys ruined Gavin Henson's first appearance in Swansea since January 2009 with a 17-12 win over Cardiff.
Last Updated: 01/01/12 9:45pm
The Ospreys continued their home dominance over Cardiff Blues with a 17-12 victory in a scrappy RaboDirect Pro12 encounter.
Gavin Henson was unable to help his new club to a win over his old employers on his first appearance in Swansea since January 2009.
A second-half try from Ireland wing Tommy Bowe was the crucial moment as the Ospreys made sure they'd remain in second spot in the table.
It was nip and tuck for most of the game, but the home scrum took control in the closing exchanges and a pair of penalties from replacement fly-half Dan Biggar gave the Ospreys a welcome start to 2012.
Dominated
The home side had dominated early on too, with young fly-half Matthew Morgan, preferred in the starting XV to Biggar, pulling the strings.
The 19-year-old struck two early penalties, sandwiching one blistering break from his own half, as the Ospreys moved 6-0 in front.
It could, and should, have been much more - twice the Ospreys were turned over within sight of the line, while Morgan missed with his third penalty attempt at goal.
Against the run of play it was the Blues who were next on the scoreboard thanks to a long-range penalty from winger Leigh Halfpenny.
The Wales international was on target again six minutes later and there were a couple of eye-catching moments from Henson, making only his second start since injury ended his World Cup dream, but mistakes littered proceedings as the sides went into half-time deadlocked.
The Blues brought on Dan Parks for fly-half Ceri Sweeney for the start of the second half, but it was Morgan who had another chance to put his side in front, only to push a 40-metre penalty attempt wide.
Despairing tackle
However, it was not long before the Ospreys were back in front with Bowe claiming the game's first try, the winger riding the despairing tackle of Henson to touch down on the line.
Morgan missed with the conversion attempt and the deficit was reduced to two points just before the hour mark thanks to another fine strike from Halfpenny.
Biggar, on as a replacement for Morgan, pushed his first attempt wide from the touchline, but found his radar quickly as the Ospreys scrum began to dominate.
On two occasions they won critical penalties, giving Biggar the chance to push them clear in the final 10 minutes of a hard-fought contest, with the Blues having to make do with a losing bonus point.
