Following Ospreys defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm last night in the Anglo Welsh Cup our writer Robert Rees looks back at some of their memorable meetings.
Anglo Welsh Cup 2015; Gloucester 32 – 25 Ospreys
In a seven try thriller at Kingsholm, it was Gloucester who came out on top as they dominated the Ospreys set piece and took the majority of the first half possession, gifting them the platform to score from. The score was looking much more convincing at 29-13 but two late Ospreys tries closed the gap.
The Anglo Welsh Cup might not be the most prestigious of competitions but it certainly didn’t lack any excitement in this match. On the score-sheet that day for Gloucester, current crop Ollie Thorley and Billy Burns.
LV Cup 2012-13; Ospreys 33-27 Gloucester
A true nail biter thanks to Morgan Allen’s late try stealing the victory from under the nose of the visiting Cherry and Whites. Not often you see a match include two drop goals but this had everything. Matthew Morgan exceptional with the boot and a key to them winning the game despite only playing an hour.
A young Rhys Webb came off the bench in this November clash, what a player he would turn out to be for the Ospreys.
EDF Energy Cup (Anglo Welsh) 2009; Gloucester 17-0 Ospreys
Gloucester truly dominated this match in front of the 30,000 strong crowd at the Ricoh Arena in the first of the 2008-09 campaign’s semi-finals. Ospreys included current Gloucester star Richard Hibbard and former Gloucester fly-half, who is now back at the Ospreys, James Hook. The game was a closely contended game scoreline wise but Gloucester piled the pressure on to the Welsh team.
Three penalties and a drop goal from Ryan Lamb secured the victory, with the only try of the game coming in the 76th minute courtesy of Iain Balshaw.
It was a scrappy affair which probably didn’t help the Ospreys who fielded Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams in their ranks. Hardly a group formatted for a forwards game.
Friendly match 2009, Gloucester 16-22 Ospreys
Why is a friendly significant? You may ask. Well perhaps, not for the result or the outcome but more of who played in the match that day.
A young 19 year-old Dan Biggar was in the squad. He was competing with James Hook for the jersey at the time, the Welsh international and the prodigy. A partnership that produced the goods for both the Ospreys and Wales and one that has been reunited for this season.
Also in the squad that day was All Blacks Jerry Collins and Sonny Parker. Not often a northern hemisphere side holds two New Zealanders in their squad, such was the class of the Ospreys at the time. A perfect tribute to Collins and the way he conducted himself at the Ospreys would be a win tonight.
Powergen Cup (Anglo Welsh) 2005; Gloucester 23-7 Ospreys
The oldest of our selected ties see’s the Cherry and Whites overturn the Ospreys, whose only try came through their recently departed coach Steve Tandy.
Despite his and the Ospreys best efforts it was never to be. The hosts were just too strong and tries from James Simpson-Daniel and Henry Paul helping them home alongside the boot of Ludovic Mercier.
It was a dire day for the Ospreys as they immediately started the second half on a defensive error leading to the Paul try and leaving coach Lyn Jones very disappointed.
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