Celtic Review - Week 15

By Paul French 05/03/04
March 6 2004

Forms knows little logic in the Celtic League, with another night of surprises, that saw the Dragons slip off the top of the table in spectacular fashion.

Ospreys 23-11 Celtic Warriors

A massive defensive effort from the Ospreys saw them do the season double over the Warriors. Aided by a fortuitous opening score from Stefan Terblanche and then a timid interception try from James Bater, the West Glamorgan outfit went in with a comfortable half time lead, which they never relinquished.

For all their second half the domination, the Warriors only had a Jonathan Bryant try on the hour mark to show. Realistically though they were well out muscled up front, and never had a platform to build on. James Bater was particularly superb in a hungry Ospreys back row.

Leinster Lions 18-22 Cardiff Blues

Cardiff held on with fourteen men to maintain the four point gap between themselves and the Ospreys in the battle for the fourth Heineken cup spot. It was only when Peiter Muller crossed with twelve minutes to go, was they're any day light between the teams. Rob Appleyard's sending off for supposed elbowing made the final few minutes very tense, earlier Appleyard had crossed for the Blues first try of the night.

Glasgow 48-14 N-G Dragons

Ruddock's rejects were knocked off the top of the table in emphatic style by an ever improving Glasgow side at Hughenden. Two interception tries in the opening ten minutes knocked the fire out of the Dragons who never really recovered as the Scottish side ran riot with five more tries on a night to forget for the Gwent region who could only manage one of their own through Percy Montgomery.

Ulster took full advantage, breaking loose in the second half to claim a bonus point 36-9 thumping of Munster, and go back to the summit of the table.

Little can be deducted from the league table at the moment, other than just how close things are. Should Llanelli expectantly defeat Edinburgh tomorrow evening, it would see them up to a close second, however should the Scot's spring a surprise the Scarlet's would be drawn into an unthinkable battle for European qualification, with a trip to nearest rivals Cardiff next Saturday.

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