Magners League Table

Team
Pld
Pts
MunsterMunster522
OspreysOspreys519
ScarletsScarlets513
LeinsterLeinster512
Cardiff BluesBlues511
Glasgow WarriorsWarriors511
Newport Gwent DragonsDragons510
Connacht RugbyConnacht58
EdinburghEdinburgh58
Ulster RugbyUlster57
Ospreys down Leinster at Donnybrook
12 - 16
Donnybrook   Att: 3,500
Referee: Andrew Ireland
Sunday 6th March 2005, 16:45
 A second half try from Jason Spice helped the Neath-Swansea Ospreys move 12 points clear at the top of the Celtic League on Sunday. The Ospreys managed to hold off a late Leinster surge to win 16-12 at Donnybrook.
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Osprey's try-scorer Jason Spice is tackled
Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy, fresh from his hamstring problems, had his first outing in four weeks - he played an hour and sparked the Leinster backline into action late in the first half, but was able to do little as a 66th-minute Jason Spice try and the boot of both Shaun Connor and his replacement the talented Wales Under-21 player Matthew Jones helped the Welshmen to  only their third win in nine trips to Ireland.

The home side endured a frustrating opening period as the elusive Spice had a fifth-minute try ruled out for having a foot in touch. Fly-half Connor kicked just one of three penalty shots and his seventh-minute goal from 40 metres was the game's only score until first-half injury-time when Christian Warner's effort left Leinster 5-3 up at the break.

In the second half a Guy Easterby hack-through created havoc in the Welsh defence and with Kieran Lewis drawing his man in, centre Warner turned on the gas and outpaced Richard Pugh for the corner for his third try in two matches.

Holwell missed the conversion wide and was made to pay after 57 minutes as Connor – who had missed his fourth attempt early in the second half - made amends for a 6-5 lead.
The Ospreys were beginning to dominate and a blindside dart nine minutes later saw the Leinster defence all over the place. Dave Tiueti and captain Barry Williams were picking-and-driving to good effect, and Spice got the touchdown from a close-in ruck.

Matthew Jones tagged on the conversion and added an easy 73rd-minute penalty, with substitute prop Emmett Byrne banished to the bin for preventing a quick release. With Byrne in the bin Leinster pilled on the pressure late on and got in for their second try through captain Shane Jennings. A searing Warner break allowed Jennings set up a grandstand finish but Holwell's touchline conversion mattered little in the end as the Ospreys held on for their 13th and most crucial win of the campaign.

 

Leinster V Ospreys
 PDCTPosPlayerPlayerPosTCDP 
Replacement off




FB
Gordon D'Arcy
15
Stefan Terblanche
FB










W
John McWeeney
14
Dave Tiueti
W









1
C
Christian Warner
13
David Bishop
C










C
David McAllister
12
Elvis Seveali'i
C




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W
Kieran Lewis
11
Richard Mustoe
W








1

FH
David Holwell
10
Shaun Connor
FH



2
Replacement off
Replacement off




SH
Guy Easterby
9
Jason Spice
SH
1



Replacement off





P
John Lyne
1
Duncan Jones
P




Replacement off
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H
David Blaney
2
Barry Williams
H




Replacement off
Replacement off




P
Ricky Nebbett
3
Andrew Millward
P










L
Des Dillon
4
Andy Newman
L





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L
Ben Gissing
5
Lyndon Bateman
L










FL
Ciaran Potts
6
Jonathan Thomas
FL




Replacement off
Replacement off



1
FL
Shane Jennings
7
Richie Pugh
FL





Replacement off




8
Victor Costello
8
James Bater
8





Replacements
Replacement onYellow card




r
Emmett Byrne
16
Richard Hibbard
r




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r
Gavin Hickie
17
Cai Griffiths
r




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r
Aidan McCullen
18
Alun-Wyn Jones
-





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r
Jamie Heaslip
19
Nathan Bonner-Evans
r




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r
Keith Gleeson
20
Richie Rees
r




Replacement on
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r
Brian O'Riordan
21
Matthew Jones
r

1

1
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-
John Hearty
22
Adrian Durston
r




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Penalty Tries
0
0
All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Graham Stuart
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