15 points from Welsh fly-half James Hook ensured a 20-12 victory for the Ospreys over Munster today"â¬â¢s Magners League encounter at the Liberty Stadium.
A Justin Marshall try and Hook's tally of a try, two conversions and two penalties was enough to overwrite Brian Carney and Donncha Ryan's tries, as well as Ronan O'Gara's conversion.
The Ospreys now sit five points behind leaders Leinster, with a game in hand. Mid-table Munster, who were last week dumped out of the Heineken Cup, have little to play for.
The Ospreys went ahead after just 11 minutes with a beautifully worked try. From a central position Jason Spice spread the play to the right flank where the immense Hook was lurking.
A clever dummy split the Munster defence, not for the last time, allowing the Welsh fly-half the time and the space to jink in over the line.
Although wide on the right, Hook was equal to the task sending the conversion between the posts to leave the home side seven points to the good.
Munster battled back and touched down themselves on 14 minutes. With a break by Tomas O'Leary through the centre of the field passing to Donncha Ryan who touch down in the corner.
Having hit the post with a penalty after 27 minutes, Hook redeemed himself with a perfectly taken kick from an identical position just three minutes later.
We saw some excellent skill and pace from Shane Williams giving him a well deserved Man of the Match.
Again the immensely influential Hook stepped up to put his side eight points to the good with two minutes to the break.
The Ospreys further stretched their lead on 67 minutes. A training ground move saw Justin Marshall cruelly expose the gaping hole created between the rows of a deep line out. Sneaking in for a clear run on the line, the substitute virtually killed off the game.
When Hook stepped up to convert, Munster's challenge was well and truly over.
Although 20-5 down, the Irish side was thrown a lifeline in the 73rd minute when Barry Williams was sent to the line for a yellow card.
At the death, an undeserved air of respectability was put on a disappointing visiting performance when an excellent cross field kick from O'Gara found former rugby league star Carney on the left. Showing an impressive kick of pace, the former Wigan star powered to the corner.
O'Gara then stepped up to convert from the narrowest of angles.
The Ospreys had a well deserved 20 "â¬" 12 win, putting them second in the table and all to play for.