Ospreys soar towards semis

EDF Energy Cup holders Ospreys remain on course for the semi-finals after a 37-22 victory over Worcester.

Wales centre Gavin Henson scored a stunning solo try on his first appearance since completing a two-match ban imposed by the Ospreys for missing training earlier this month.

Henson's 40-metre run, which saw him ghosting past Warriors' former Australian Test full-back Chris Latham, was the highlight of a hard-earned Ospreys victory.

Wings Shane Williams and Nikki Walker also claimed Ospreys' tries, as did centre Tommy Bowe, whose injury-time effort secured a bonus point.

Fly-half James Hook kicked 17 points to deny a spirited Warriors outfit, while Hook's opposite number Matthew Jones also collected a 17-point haul from five penalties and a conversion of centre Sam Tuitupou's second-half try.

But Ospreys will win the group and secure a semi-final spot if they win at London Irish next Sunday.

Henson was among seven of Wales' autumn Test squad in the Ospreys starting line-up, with six more on the bench, including Grand Slam skipper Ryan Jones and fly-half prospect Dan Biggar.

Worcester's New Zealand wing Rico Gear, who has scored three tries in his last two appearances for the Warriors, was a late withdrawal due to injury, so 20-year-old Charlie Fellows deputised.

Pressure

Worcester should have taken a 10th-minute lead after absorbing early Ospreys pressure by prospering from Hook's wild pass.

He threw the ball into no-man's land just outside his 22, but Ospreys' Walker offered sufficient defensive resistance to prevent Warriors centre Alex Grove claiming a touchdown.

Despite the tournament's perceived "second-class" status, both teams went at each other in no-holds-barred fashion.

The game's admirably intense physical nature though, was overshadowed by numerous handling errors as Hook and Jones slotted early penalties.

Hook then slotted a second penalty when Matthew Jones was sin-binned on his return to the Ospreys three years after being capped by Wales from the Swansea-based region.

Worcester predictably struggled to cope with their temporary one-man disadvantage, and the Ospreys pounced for a 33rd-minute try.

A wayward kick by wing Chris Pennell put the Warriors under needless pressure, and slick Ospreys passing resulted in Walker crossing wide out.

It was the Ospreys first try in more than three hours of competitive action, and they added another during injury time after Jones rejoined the action to boot a second penalty.

Henson received the ball near halfway, then burst through a midfield hole before side-stepping Latham to claim a brilliant individual try.

Hook missed a second successive conversion attempt, but the Ospreys trooped off 16-6 ahead, having taken charge of the contest.

Jones' third penalty briefly cut the gap, but Worcester conceded another try with 35 minutes still remaining, as Henson and full-back Lee Byrne combined to send an unmarked Williams over.

Control

Hook landed the touchline conversion, and despite a fourth Jones penalty, the Ospreys were in control with plenty of time to pursue a fourth-try bonus point.

The home side saw flanker Tom Smith sin-binned after a ruck offence, which provided Worcester's cue to take charge up front.

And they did not disappoint, patiently building a platform that enabled the powerful Tuitupou to plough through Ospreys' defence for a try that Jones converted.

Hook completed his penalty hat-trick to move the Ospreys 26-19 ahead, then a fourth three-pointer took Worcester out of losing bonus point range.

Hook's fourth penalty came after he was denied a try following Worcester prop Matt Mullan's superb tackle, which underlined that the Warriors had no intention of throwing the towel in.

A fifth Jones penalty reduced the gap to 29-22, but Hook struck again, before Bowe sprinted over to secure the bonus point for the hosts in the final seconds.