By Lestyn - 06/09/03
September 7 2003

Fridays games saw an encouraging start for two of the Welsh regions. The Warriors stuffed Borders out of sight before half time, the Ospreys weren't quite as comfortable, but still impressed in their win over Ulster at the Gnoll. The Blues on the other hand were completely dire as they went down.

Ospreys 40 Ulster 31

This game wasn't really like what the score line suggested, even if Ulster outscored the home side three tries to one in the first half, the Ospreys should have won by a far more comfortable margin. It took a super sub appearance from Gavin Henson to clinch the points, the outside half who recently missed out on a place in Steve Hansen's World cup squad took over from Shaun Connor at ten, and turned the game around with two tries.

Under 21 Richie Pugh had big game at open side, only in because of injuries Pugh looked very affective in the lose. Gibbs showed the presence he was expected to. Elvis Seveali'l looked a threat also. The second row didn't impress much, Tait and Newman were a bit light weight. Durston looked as I thought he would a bit hesitant, but credit to him he improved as the game went on.

Crowd was a big plus- all 4,500 appeared to be behind the Ospreys. With a bit of promotion and a few more displays like this they could and should build get near the golden 8,000 mark.

Glasgow 23 Blues 13

No positives for the gutless Blues to take out of this one. Quinnell sent off for stamping, Crazy Dan Baugh and Ben Evans both sin binned - no surprise there then. The Blues had a nightmare start, wing Gareth Maclure touching down after only six minutes. At 11-6 down at half time the Blues still had a chance, but with nothing special on the bench it was going to be an up hill struggle to turn the game around.

And when full back Donavan van Vuuren was all to casual in clearing the ball, Glasgow scrum half Sam Pinder charged the ball down and pounced to kill of any real hope for the visitors of a win. But they did hit back almost immediately when Nicky Robinson skipped through to send make shift centre Macleod over. But down to 13 they failed to score again.

Poor discipline from the usual suspects probably cost the Blues at least a bonus point for finishing within 7 points, they were really quite clueless behind and lacked any sort of game plan at all, other than to unruffle Glasgow up front. Without an out and out inside centre the backs were nearly completely clueless. Jim Brownrigg's injury and Quinnell's ban will make Dai Young's task of putting a pack together ahead of what is now surely a must win game against Connacht next Saturday to get the season started has been made even harder.

Borders 12 Warriors 49

The Warriors got off to a dream start in Scotland. Borders were never in it as Lyn Howells's side chalked up 31 points by half time, including two tries from centre Shaun James, one touch down from Aisea Havili and and as always four penalties from the boot of Neil Jenkins.

Borders were completely inept, the decision not to start Gregor Townsend back fired majorly, with their two tries coming only a few minutes from time. Gareth Wyatt and Nick Kelly both touched down to complete the impressive rout in the second half. Jenkins took advantage of countless penalties given away by the home side, to take his personal tally up to 24 points in the game.

With matters off the field dominating things in the region the result will come as something of a relief, but the real test will be next week with the prospect Leinster coming to the Brewery field.
 

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