Wales centre Parker struck on 73 minutes with the only try of the match in a tight affair at Musgrave Park. But three penalties from Paul Warwick, including one in the amazing ten minutes of injury time, kept Munster’s Magners League title hopes alive.
Ospreys fly half James Hook was off colour in Cork with only one successful kick out of five and Shane Williams missed a drop goal with the last kick of the match.
The clash at Musgrave Park had been billed as a potential Heineken Cup semi-final dress rehearsal before Saracens spoilt that party by sinking the Ospreys at Vicarage Road. The Ospreys rested Grand Slam stars Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones and skipper Ryan Jones following their EDF Energy Cup win over Leicester Tigers but still included 12 internationals in their line-up.
Munster Coach Declan Kidney also made sweeping changes with one eye already set on next weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final with influential fly half Ronan O’Gara a doubt with a knee injury. But stand-in fly half Paul Warwick eased the Red Army’s worries with an impressive display.
The visitors started brightly and James Hook booted the Ospreys into a third minute lead with a penalty. Warwick tied the scores in the 13th minute before Hook wasted the chance to put the Ospreys back in the lead by sliding two further long-range penalties wide.
Munster should have made Hook’s wayward kicking prove costly but wing Anthony Horgan failed to pick out his fellow backs with the try-line at his mercy on 22 minutes.
It was an compelling, action-packed opening period but neither side could forge the first try of the night. Wing wizard Williams produced a dazzling run on 56 minutes but it was Parker who provided the spark with his solo try with seven minutes remaining.
But the Ospreys were cruelly denied by the ultra cool Warwick in stoppage time.
Click Here for a Statistical Match Report from the Munster v Ospreys clash at Musgrave Park
