Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 16:56:00 2008
England fly-half Toby Flood kicked all of Leicester's points in a 12-6 triumph over Ospreys at Welford Road before limping off injured.
Leicester, European champions in 2001 and 2002, produced a dominant first-half display, with their forwards laying the foundation for victory.
In a game bursting with internationals and bristling with the intensity of a closely-fought Test match in which chances were few and far between, the Ospreys were subjected to a blistering start by the home side.
Ill-discipline cost the Welsh region dear, Leicester fly-half Flood booting three penalties in the first 22 minutes, a period in which Ryan Jones's team were rarely allowed to venture out of their own half.
Leicester spurned two great chances to score early on, Lee Byrne tap tackling Matt Smith with the line at his mercy.
And when Johne Murphy sliced through the defensive line between fly-half James Hook and inside centre Andrew Bishop - usually so tightly marshalled by Gavin Henson, who was dropped for this match for ill-discipline - it looked as if Leicester were in. But Murphy's final pass spiralled straight into touch.
Shane Williams cut the deficit back with an opportunistic drop-goal for the Ospreys just on the stroke of half-time.
The Welsh started the second half with more drive than they had shown in the first period, when they had struggled with Leicester's superior physicality and the surging support play of their forwards, notably man-of-the-match Croft.
Hook cut back the lead with another penalty but with seven minutes remaining and the Ospreys, buoyed by replacement number eight Filo Tiatia, beginning to find some holes in the English defence, the outside-half missed a second effort.
Ospreys centre Tommy Bowe went close after chasing his own kick ahead a fully 50 metres but Geordan Murphy did well to get back and force his Irish compatriot into knocking on.
Toulouse 18-16 Bath
There was heartbreak for Bath in Toulouse, where France outside-half David Skrela kicked a magnificent injury-time touchline penalty, his sixth of the game, to seal victory.
Just minutes earlier, Bath full-back Nick Abendanon had burst through three tackles to touch down for what looked like a winning score for the English club.
But Butch James missed the conversion, leaving the score at 16-15, and the three-time former European champions used all their nous to battle back and win the decisive penalty call when James was caught offside at a tackle.
Wasps 25-11 Castres
In a Pool Two showdown, Wasps built up a 20-3 lead at half-time over Castres thanks to tries from Paul Sackey and Tom Voyce, both converted by Danny Cipriani, who also hit two penalties.
Josh Lewsey scored a third try for the English club while France captain Lionel Nallet replied with one of his own, Cameron McIntyre hitting two penalties.
Comment 1 - 9 of 9
refering to gavin henson and charlotte as a tart does not say much for the brain power of rbf-dave.If that is his best comment perhaps he should go back to school and get some help with his manners
Henson is a jumped up tart and has wasted his best years with another jumped up tart.
Problem is, he's a dimwit. For this reason he'll never fulfil his potential.
Obviously some guidance is needed for the best centre in wales Mr Gibbs....
What is wrong with Gavin ? He is supremely talented as a rugby player .God forbid that he wastes this talent like Gaza and Best.Is there someone somewhere in Wales who can get a grip on him ?
sadly i believe beneath gavin's physical and financial maturity lies a vague and languished jeuvenile mentality at the tiller, all i hope is that it finds the right direction soon, before he realises the course he was gifted is no longer sailable.
g2yn
Henson has a major problem"upstairs"
As long as "our gav" is playing for wales and playing well i dont care. Wales have a lack of talent in the centre so we need henson on form and being picked for his club otherwise he'll lose interest in playing rugby.
about time not a roll model for young sports men /women .
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