Ospreys (17) 37
Tries: Penalty, Biggar, Tipuric, Beck, Collins Cons: Biggar 3 Pen: Biggar
Drop-goal: Biggar
Glasgow (6) 6
Pens: Weir
The Ospreys produced an outstanding display to claim a bonus-point win over Glasgow that boosts their Magners League play-off hopes.
The defending champions were too strong and skilful for the visitors.
Wales reject Dan Biggar had a great night, going through the card of try, conversions, penalty and drop-goal.
Other home tries came from a penalty try, Ashley Beck, Justin Tipuric and Jerry Collins while Duncan Weir kicked two Glasgow penalties.
The game began badly for Glasgow with fly-half Duncan Weir sending the kick-off out on the full.
And with the Ospreys determined to continue their winning form the visitors also soon found themselves on the wrong foot on the scoreboard.
Even with Adam Jones on the bench the Ospreys scrum was impressive from the start. Its power brought the hosts the game's first score - a penalty try - in the ninth minute, converted by Biggar.
The home fly-half had an outstanding opening period, kicking accurately and prompting attacks in a composed manner.
Biggar, who was dropped from the Wales squad ahead of the Six Nations as Scarlets rival Rhys Priestland won favour, added a smart drop-goal in the 15th minute.
Four minutes later Biggar scored an excellent try, rounding one defender before sidestepping the next to go over and added the conversion.
That left the visitors 17-0 down after almost as many minutes. After that they settled into the contest, providing the platform for Weir to kick penalties in the 20th and 22nd minutes.
However, Weir then fluffed a drop-goal attempt and saw his side twice denied tries by excellent last-ditch Ospreys defence.
Wing DTH Van Der Merwe crossed the line only to be prevented from scoring by a superb Beck tackle that held the ball off the floor.
Moments later scrum-half Rhys Webb - with Hanno Dirksen's assist - stopped Peter Murchie touching down.
Those efforts were an indication of the attitude among the Ospreys in the absence of a host of big-name Test stars plying their Six Nations trade for Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
But with the likes of James Hook, Lee Byrne and possibly others leaving the Liberty Stadium at the end of the season their back-up men have been in impressive form of late.
One of those young talents, Justin Tipuric, who has led the Ospreys during the Six Nations, claimed his side's third try.
The openside's outstretched arm secured the touchdown and Biggar again converted before kicking his first penalty.
But the night's best try was to follow, a length-of-the-field effort that underlined their attacking capability.
Replacement Tom Isaac broke away from his own line and after rounding Hefin O'Hare, found veteran prop Duncan Jones in support.
The loose-head kept the move alive, allowing Richard Fussell to give Beck the chance to break free from Glasgow's despairing last line of defence to score.
Replacement flanker Collins scored the Ospreys' final try, having come on at the same time as Adam Jones, whose mere presence was a boost to Wales with two games remaining in the Six Nations - against Ireland in Cardiff on 12 March and a week later against France in Paris.
Ospreys: Richard Fussell; Tom Prydie, Sonny Parker, Ashley Beck, Hanno Dirksen; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Ryan Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Cai Griffiths, Ian Gough, Ian Evans, Tom Smith, Justin Tipuric (capt), Jonathan Thomas.
Replacements: Mefin Davies, Duncan Jones, Adam Jones, James King, Jerry Collins, Jamie Nutbrown, Dai Flanagan, Andrew Bishop.
Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg, Hefin O'Hare, Peter Murchie, Peter Horne, DTH van der Merwe, Duncan Weir, Colin Gregor (capt), Ryan Grant, Fergus Thomson, Ed Kalman, Aly Muldowney, Tom Ryder, James Eddie, Calum Forrester, Ryan Wilson.
Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Kevin Tkachuk, Robert Harley, Johnnie Beattie, Henry Pyrgos, Federico Aramburu, Bernardo Stortoni.
Referee: Alan Falzone (Italy)

This article was posted on 5-Mar-2011, 19:56 by Hugh Barrow.