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Rugby Union

Ospreys ease to Cardiff win

01/01/2008

The Ospreys claimed their third Magners League win of the season after they beat Cardiff Blues 22-3 at the Liberty Stadium last night.

Although they lost Gavin Henson to injury just before the game, young fly-half James Hook kicked 17 points for the Ospreys and Huw Bennett scored the only try of the game.

In a really poor first-half where neither side created many chances, it was Hook's accurate kicking which gave the Ospreys the advantage.

The Welsh international kicked three first-half penalties. His first successful kick came after the Blues were penalised for holding onto the ball. Then Martyn Williams came in from the side of a ruck and conceded another penalty which Hook converted.

A burst from winger Shane Williams led to another penalty for the Ospreys which Hook scored to give his team a 9-0 lead.

Ben Blair reduced the deficit for the Blues after he kicked a penalty, and when the Ospreys were reduced to 14 men when Marty Holah was sin-binned, the Blues got the initiative to get back in the game.

But it was Hook who was the star man as he kicked two more penalties to extend his side's lead. And when Maama Molitika was sin-binned for Cardiff, the Ospreys did take advantage and scored the only try of the game.

A break from Williams allowed Bennett to dive past the try-line and Hook added the two extra points soon later to make the points safe for the home side.