Gavin Henson scored 14 crucial points as the Ospreys got their Celtic League season back on track with a nail-biting victory at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.
The Ospreys went into the match as the 10th-placed side in an 11-team tournament, but gave fourth-placed Edinburgh a lesson in wet-weather rugby before surviving a final-quarter comeback from the Scots.
The victory takes the Osprey’s who finished the match with only 13 men, above Welsh rivals Dragons and Scarlets in the League table.
Henson kicked the points but it was fellow Wales star Shane Williams who caused the Scottish province the most problems, with the fast-stepping winger proving almost untouchable all afternoon.
Henson and Edinburgh fly-half Phil Godman traded early penalty goals before things kicked off in the 15th minute. Ospreys scrum-half
Jason Spice squared up to visiting prop Craig Smith and it was several minutes before referee David Keane restored order.
Henson converted the ensuing penalty, and only poor handling prevented an Ospreys try after a scintillating 60-metre break from Williams.
The Edinburgh defences were finally breached on the half-hour mark, with Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett being driven over the line from a close-range lineout. Henson continued a solid kicking display with the sideline conversion.
The score seemed to give the Ospreys another gear. Fly-half Shaun Connor dotted down in the same corner after a clever pass from impressive Irish backrower Des Dillon and the home side took a match-winning 18-3 lead into the halftime break.
Williams opened the second half with another searing break through the middle of a bemused Edinburgh defence, and Henson added another goal when visiting winger Simon Webster was sin-binned for a professional foul.
Edinburgh had the better of the second half, and yellow cards to Ospreys forwards Cai Griffiths and Jonathan Thomas ensured a grandstand finish.
Webster scored in the corner and centre Peter Jorgenson dotted down under the posts to make it a seven-point ball-game with five minutes remaining, but the Scots ran out of time to snatch a draw.
