Ospreys 24-23 Harlequins
The Ospreys escaped a shock defeat in their first defence of the EDF Energy Cup tile with a one-point win over Harlequins.
James Hook showed ice showed an ice-cool temperament to convert Tommy Bowe’s injury-time try and spare the Welsh region’s blushes at the Liberty Stadium.
The Ospreys produced a below-par performance but got out of jail thanks to Wales fly-half Hook’s 14 points.
Shane Williams’ first-half strike had handed the Ospreys a commanding 14-3 interval lead but Quins fought back through tries by De Wet Barry and Tani Fuga before Bowe’s late score allowed Hook to clinch the victory.
Gavin Henson completed the full 80 minutes in his first start for six months with one moment of importance in either half. The British Lion assisted Williams’ try in an energetic first-half display before produced a try-saving tackle after the interval on Barry.
Henson was one of 13 internationals in a strong Ospreys line-up and the glamour boy of Welsh rugby was in the thick of the action immediately by making a surging run from the kick-off.
The hosts were on the front foot but Hook fired the Ospreys into a six-point lead following two sweetly-struck penalties by Hook in the opening 25 minutes.
Waisea Luveniyali and Hook exchanged penalties before the holders showed their true class when Alun Wyn Jones stormed through the Quins defence from Hook’s pass and the giant lock found Henson who made the try-scoring pass to Williams.
Quins were down to 14 men after wing Epi Taione was yellow carded but they were back in the match on 43 minutes when South African centre Barry found a gaping hole and beat the last-ditch tackle of Byrne to touch down.
Luveniyali converted and then the visitors took a shock 17-14 lead when television Match official Tony Rowlands awarded Tani Fuga’s scrambled effort on 55 minutes.
Luveniyali and Hook swapped further penalties before the home side lost Ryan Jones to the sin-bin which resulted in Luveniyali re-establishing Quins’ six-point lead.
But the Ospreys were given a lifeline when Bowe capitalised on Seb Stegmann’s fumble to crash over before Hook’s conversion sealed the triumph.
