Welsh Rugby

  • Home
  • Rugby
  • Mark Jones Hails Ospreys Effort As They Storm Glasgow Fortress

Mark Jones Hails Ospreys Effort as They Storm Glasgow Fortress

Simon ThomasSimon Thomas3 March 2025
Ospreys coach Mark Jones: Pic: Alamy

Ospreys coach Mark Jones: Pic: Alamy

The Ospreys had gone nine years without winning in Glasgow, but Jack Walsh ended that run in style.

There was St David’s Day delight for the Ospreys as they beat Glasgow Warriors 32-31 at Scotstoun with “a rollercoaster ride” of a match taking a dramatic twist at the final turn.

It looked as though league champions Glasgow had snatched the spoils when Duncan Weir converted Nathan McBeth’s try with just 30 seconds to play.

But from the restart, with the clock having turned red, Ospreys skipper Justin Tipuric won a jackal penalty and full-back Jack Walsh kept his nerve to slot the match-winning kick from wide out on the right.

It was the Welsh side’s first win in Glasgow since 2016 and the scenes of celebration were suitably ecstatic as Walsh was mobbed by his team-mates.

Giving his thoughts, head coach Mark Jones said: “The whole game was like a rollercoaster ride.

“It was a stressful few minutes at the end, I won’t lie to you.

“For Jack to step up in that moment, under that sort of fatigue as a goal-kicker, all credit to him.

“That wasn’t a gimme there. That’s why he spends all the time he does after training. When we are all going back in for a cup of tea, he’s out there whacking them between the posts.

“I am chuffed for him and the team for the commitment they showed and that they do get a reward at the end of it.”

The visitors had raced into a 15-0 lead with three tries inside the opening quarter, only for Glasgow to peg them back as the pendulum swung back and fore.

READ MORE: Mark Jones’ Ospreys Revival Rolls On Into European Knockout Stages

There were ten tries in all, five apiece, with Ospreys scrum-half Kieran Hardy and home prop Patrick Schickerling both crossing twice ahead of the grandstand finish.

Jones added: “Glasgow are the champions, they are the best side in the competition until the final happens again.

“So we knew we would have to be at our best and we weren’t far off it, especially in the first half. We were pretty good.

“Against the best teams, there are always going to be ebbs and flows. It’s how you deal with them and I thought emotionally we were very good. We stuck in it and we managed the momentum tides.”

Reflecting on his match-winning penalty with the final kick of the game, Walsh said: “The boys put in a shift, so I just didn’t want to let them down really. As a 10/15, that’s my job.

“Glasgow are a class outfit. I can’t remember how long it is since they lost at home. So we said we had to be in it for every minute.

“It was about having the confidence to go out and express ourselves. There was no point going out there with fear. That’s what we spoke about all week.”

READ MORE: Badger Harri Is Burrowing Into His Roots For Inspiration At Ospreys

The Player of the Match award went to Ospreys centre Keiran Williams who set up a couple of tries and was the joint top carrier along with No 8 Morgan Morse (both on 14).

“As a neutral, what a fantastic game that was to watch and, from my point of view, what a fantastic game to be a part of, especially going down to the wire,” said Williams.

“I thought we had given it away at the end and that the game had gone.

“It was one of those where we had to do anything we could to get the ball back.

“Obviously Tips - what a man - did it and credit to Jack for stepping up and getting us the win.

“It doesn’t get much better than that, does it, especially in the last minute.

“Credit to us for scoring five tries at the home of the champions. I thought we did very well in our attack.

“Hopefully, we can kick on now and finish the season well.”

It was only Glasgow’s second home defeat in the league since 2021, but their coach Franco Smith wasn’t too downbeat.


“I am proud of the boys with the character they showed to claw their way back from behind,” he said.

“A win would have been even better, but there are enough positives for us to take from this that will serve this squad well.”

He added: “Well done to the Ospreys. It’s tough to come and beat us here.”

The defeat for second-placed Glasgow leaves Leinster Rugby a whopping 13 points clear at the top of the BKT URC following their six-try 42-24 victory over Cardiff Rugby at the Aviva Stadium.

As for the battle for play-off spots, it’s now more congested than ever with just nine points separating fourth and 15th in the table.

Related News

Demoralised Wales players after their record defeat to England. Pic: Alamy

Another Day, Another New Depth Plunged By Wales As Matt Sherratt Vows To Deliver Home Truths To WRU

The Six Nations is over but the pain will take some time to ease for Wales who have finished with a second successive Wooden Spoon and a record defeat to England.

David Parsons | Mar 16, 2025
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt. Pic: Alamy

Jockey Saddles Up And Insists His Race Is Run With Wales . . . For Now

Matt Sherratt takes charge of Wales for the final time on Saturday as England come to Cardiff to face Wales in the last round of the Six Nations.

Graham Thomas | Mar 15, 2025
Wales U20 players celbrate their victory over England. Pic: Alamy

Harry's Heroes . . . Thomas Leads Wales To Epic U20 Win Over England To Deny Grand Slam

Six Nations success stories for Wales have been in short supply recently, so let's hear it for skipper Harry Beddall and his Wales U20s after their magnificent victory over England.

David Parsons | Mar 15, 2025
Aaron Wainwright of Wales. Pic: Alamy

Aaron Wainwright . . . The Winless Wales Warrior Who Is Desperate To Change The Script

Wales face England in the final round of the Six Nations on Saturday, desperate for a win, but no-one is more hungry than Aaron Wainwright.

Graham Thomas | Mar 14, 2025
Gareth Anscombe of Wales. Pic: Alamy

Gareth Anscombe Rejects Warren Gatland’s Verdict Over His Wales Future

Gareth Anscombe was brought in from the cold by interim Wales coach Matt Sherratt and now has his sights set on the future.

Graham Thomas | Mar 14, 2025
Wales interim coach Matt Sherratt. Pic: Alamy

Matt Sherratt Insists A Bad Day At The Edinburgh Office Will Not Prevent Wales From Ending Their Six Nations On A High

The final round of the Six Nations will see Wales face the old enemy, England, in the final match of Matt Sherratt's temporary spell in charge as his team try to avoid losing for a 17th time.

Graham Thomas | Mar 13, 2025