JAMES Hook produced another brilliant Twickenham performance as the Ospreys lifted the EDF Energy Cup with victory over Leicester.
The 22-year-old was a central figure again, providing the scoring pass for both Ospreys tries and kicking 13 points himself.
Leicester, the defending champions, had taken an early lead with a penalty and drop goal from Andy Goode before Hook, Mar
ty Holah, Filo Tiatia and the Ospreys took charge and Andrew Bishop and Alun-Wyn Jones scored either side of half-time.
The Ospreys, who lost to Leicester in last year's final, became the first Welsh side to win the EDF Energy Cup.
The Tigers also came into the match on the back of a defeat but they had a weekend off and started stronger. Their urgency and physicality at the breakdown made it hard for the Ospreys to settle and after Goode missed a long-range kick from his own half he pushed Leicester 6-0 ahead with a penalty and a drop goal.
Hook missed two of his three goal attempts in the first half but with the ball in hand he was a constant threat.
The Ospreys did not have long to wait for the opening try as Hook found Bishop on the switch ball. The Wales Under-21 international powered through tackles from Goode and George Chuter and had enough momentum to hold off Aaron Mauger and Tuilagi to score by the posts.
The Ospreys continued in the same vein after the restart with another break from Lee Byrne splitting the Leicester defence and Hook sent Alun-Wyn Jones plundering over for the second try. Hook's conversion from wide right was masterful and he followed that with a brilliant penalty from a similar position to open an 11-point lead their invention deserved.
Leicester marauded upfield as Jordan Crane galloped into the 22 and earned a close-range penalty but Martin Corry opted for the scrum instead of a shot.
The Ospreys held up a Leicester drive over the line before clearing and Hook applied the killer blow with his second penalty.
The full article contains 365 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
