So, after much debate the Ospreys take the URC on the road to London and the Twickenham Stoop for the Friday night visit of the Sharks. This game clashes with the Wales v Barbarians game (Saturday) so we will still be without the Team Wales boys. We are also without Tips who is playing for the Barbarians.
Therefore the Squad of 23 is likely to look like this...
G Phillips R Henry E Lewis L Lloyd T Botha B Warren R Davies H Sutton J Fender J Ratti H Deaves M Morris M Morse
RMW L Davies O Williams J Walsh M Protheroe O Watkin D Morris K Giles K Williams M Nagy (assumes everyone is fit)
i didn't even counter the idea that we would win that game with the young squad we had out. Particularly pleased for fender as I know his old man who's a top bloke...
I must be honest, I thought we were going to be in for a long tough evening after the Sharks scored their try. I thought they broke through our defence too easily. However, the performance after that set-back was outstanding. Forwards were immense and I thought that Fricker on the wing looked useful.
Echo everything said on this topic, got to add that must have been Ratti's best performance since coming back to us, the whole pack including the subs were outstanding, even the crowd when we came under pressure were very vocal.
I was not for this fixture initially but having heard the crowd and the extra money we made for this fixture, I would not mind another of these next year and I would make an extra special effort to make it if one could be arranged.
Finally special congratulations to Mark Jones and the boys for buying into his systems, the defence was outstanding
Fantastic win, buzzing after that. Lots of good performances but a hat tip to Fender and Deaves who belied their ages.
Best I have seen us at the breakdown. Fender a man mountain
Morse on for Deaves. Ospreys nick the lineout but we lack a bit of composure and knock on. Ospreys clear the bench. Luke Davies on for Fricker, Lewis Jones on. Scully on as well
Sharks win the penalty at the scrum and go for it but they lose it forward.
Ospreys scrum.
Last play?
The hands are just not good enough or else Nagy would have walked in. Bit of a bad pass and an overrun.
RWM breaks and offloads to Walsh. Ospreys looking for the BP try.
Ospreys under penalty advantage for an off the ball tackle. Morris calls for the posts. Good captaincy from Morgan Morris there. However, Walsh cannot put the goal over.
A second overthrow/not straight from Lewis Lloyd gives the Sharks a needless turnover. However, the TMO comes in for a silly high challenge from the Sharks and Walsh goes to the corner. Ospreys on the attack but another huge counter-ruck leads to a Sharks turnover.
Ospreys penalty at the scrum and Walsh clears to touch on the half way line.
Lewis Lloyd on for Lewis but his first throw is overthrown and just as the Sharks look to attack, they knock on.
Sharks maul is stopped but the Sharks retain possession and the Ospreys D holds out again.
Ospreys fail to stop the counter ruck. Sharks under penalty advantage as Rhys Davies catches the Sharks 10 high in the tackle but the ref is happy to just award the penalty.
Ospreys win the scrum battle and Nagy kicks through, the Sharks fullback whacks the ball straight into touch so the Ospreys win a lineout just outside the Sharks 22. Warren on for Botha who has done really well tonight.
Sharks change their entire front row and Ospreys prepare to send on Ben Warren.
Deaves off for a HIA. Morgan Morse on.
Rhys Henry (Superprop) comes on for Phillips.
James Fender is having a massive game.
Ospreys force a turnover and break.
Sharks under advantage and they tap and go. Big D Set required.
Morgan is unable to take a box kick and the Sharks win an offside penalty. They go to the corner. Another error by the Ospreys.
Ospreys do really well from the scrum and break. Luke Morgan kicks ahead before the Sharks kick into straight into touch. Ospreys lineout.
The Sharks go off the top and their big loosehead prop powers towards the line only for Luke Morgan to force an knock on.
A poor pass from Watkin leads to a kick through from the Sharks and they win a penalty that they kick to touch. Ospreys needlessly putting themselves under pressure.
Some kick tennis follows before Nagy charges down a clearing kick into touch on the Sharks 22.
Second half starts with the Sharks still down to 14.
Penalty advantage to the Ospreys so Walsh chips over the top. The Sharks 15 makes a complete mess, so Keiran Williams kicks on and looks to have scored a try. TMO checking.
TRY - Ospreys - that is some score from a play that RMW was about to kick into touch until the ref said we had advantage. 19-5 at the half.
Yellow card to the Sharks 12.
TMO check for a leading forearm from the Sharks 12.
Great defence from Deaves and Ratti and the Ospreys win another penalty that Walsh clears to touch.
Penalty Ospreys and Walsh smacks it deep into the corner, Fender with another strong take and the Ospreys maul. That is stopped and the forwards go to work but the Sharks defend well and win a penalty.
Almost a 50:22 to the Ospreys as RMW puts a lovely kick over the fullback. Sharks 5m lineout that they do well and clear. Ospreys' turn to attack but the pass goes into touch.
The Sharks cut us open and then attempt a kick through but Nagy somehow stops it, regathers and runs 70 metres for an Ospreys 14. That is a 14 point swing in favour of the Ospreys - 12-5 after 30.
Crowd seems to have filled out a bit. Lot of 'action' between the 10m lines with not much really happening. 25 minutes gone.
Potential hamstring injury to Owen Williams is confirmed with Walsh to 10 and Nagy to 15.
Penalty advantage to the Ospreys as we batter away at the Sharks line before the ball comes to the backs and Jack Walsh scores after a great pass from Owen Watkin. 5-5
Mark Jones is there btw.
Free kick to the Ospreys on the 5 metre line.
NO TRY.
Oh Oh TMO check on the try, grounding being checked. This could be ruled out.
4th penalty so the Sharks are on a warning. Corner again.
3rd penalty in a row that goes to the corner.
Penalty Ospreys that is kickable but we go to the corner instead. Another penalty awarded to the Ospreys and we go to the corner again.
TRY - Sharks after 4 minutes exploiting a gap on our wing again.
0-5
Crowd not as big as I was thinking it would be....
Here is the starting team and bench for tomorrow.
Starting XV:
15. Jack Walsh
14. Luke Morgan
13. Keiran Williams
12. Owen Watkin
11. Toby Fricker
10. Owen Williams
9. Reuben Morgan-Williams
1. Garyn Phillips
2. Ethan Lewis
3. Tom Botha
4. Rhys Davies
5. James Fender
6. James Ratti
7. Harri Deaves
8. Morgan Morris ©
Replacements:
16. Lewis Lloyd
17. Rhys Henry
18. Ben Warren
19. Lewis Jones
20. Morgan Morse
21. Luke Davies
22. Max Nagy
23. Luke Scully
I have a bad feeling that this fixture is the beginning of the end of professional rugby in this area. If it deemed a success next season it will be 2 games in London the following season who knows!! It is not helped by people like Sean holley giving it the seal of approval. I feel there needs to be a statement on the long term future whether it involves st Helens or whatever. For me my 15th season ticket will probably be my last if games out the region are the future
I wonder why there has been no PC from Booth by now, or is there a big blockbuster announcement set for tomorrow?
Has to be a doubt over Phillips who had a HIA . Can’t see Dom Morris making it and quite possibly Nagy. Hopefully Gareth Thomas will play and Sam Parry. maybe Harri Houston gets a chance with the injuries.