Ospreys bosses have sent out a rallying cry to supporters ahead of Saturday's Magners League clash with Ulster at the Liberty Stadium (KO 5.30pm), urging them to help the players turn Liberty Stadium into a fortress this season.
Ospreys bosses have sent out a rallying cry to supporters ahead of Saturday's Magners League clash with Ulster at the Liberty Stadium (KO 5.30pm), urging them to help the players turn Liberty Stadium into a fortress this season.
Sean Holley and Jonathan Humphreys men are looking to build on their excellent start to the season that has seen them win three of their first four matches, taking them to second place in the formative Magners League table. This weekend, the Ospreys will be aiming to follow-up their stunning 32-10 demolition of Cardiff Blues at the Liberty Stadium in the opening week of the season, their only home fixture so far, with another performance of note against the Ulstermen to round off the first month of the season in style before their attention turns away from the Magners League to the EDF Energy and Heineken Cup's during October.
The Ospreys enviable home form was the cornerstone of their successful Magners League campaign in 2006/07 as the region went unbeaten for a whole season in all competitions, losing just the one home game between December 2005 and September 2007. However, last season their form at the Liberty Stadium was far more mixed, with three Magners League defeats over the course of the campaign. Now, following the victory over the Blues in the first home game of the season, the target for the region is to complete another season unbeaten at home and Managing Director Roger Blyth is calling on supporters to help bring back the 'Liberty Factor' that proved so effective in the championship winning season. He said:
"Sean, Jonathan and their coaching team have got off to a magnificent start. They've had a very difficult first month of the season to contend with, with five games crammed in and three of the first four being away from home but, along with the squad, they have definitely stepped up to the challenge and delivered some excellent results so far. After being on their travels over recent weeks they are coming back to the Liberty Stadium on Saturday and it would be fantastic to see a big crowd there to welcome them home.
"When you look at the 2006/07 season when we won the Magners League, our home form was at the heart of our success and our supporters undoubtedly played their part in that, turning out in big numbers and helping to generate a great atmosphere which the players genuinely appreciated and responded to.
"To go unbeaten at home for a whole season is a phenomenal achievement, when we did it two seasons ago it was the foundation for our success and if we are to be successful this season then we will need to re-establish the Liberty Stadium as something of a fortress, where opposition teams fear playing and where the crowd play their part in driving the players forward. We definitely had the 'Liberty Factor' in that season and we want to bring it back this year.
"When you speak to the players about the crowd and atmosphere on a match-day, you realise that it does really make a difference to them to see a packed stand and to here the supporters getting behind them, it can psychologically give them the important extra one or two per cent that can be the difference between winning and losing a tight match.
"We've been the best supported region in Wales for the last three seasons and we want to keep that crown this season as well as securing more success on the field, the two aims go hand in hand.
There were more than 8,000 here for the Cardiff Blues match and I'd like to think that given the start to the season we've had and the way that Sean and Jonathan have got the team playing that we can at least match that, if not beat it, this Saturday."
Tickets for the match are on sale at the Liberty Stadium Ticket Office, online at http://ospreysrugby.com/admin/includes/scripts/www.ospreysrugby.com or via the Ticket Hotline on 08700 400 004.
The new match-day bus service will again be operating on Saturday, providing a low-cost and convenient transport option to supporters in all corners of Ospreylia. Costing between £3.15 and £5.00 per adult return, depending on collection point, with a child return priced just £2.40, the service will depart from Neath at 4.35pm, Gowerton at 4.20pm, Abercrave at 3.55pm, Oystermouth at 4.10pm and Pencoed at 3.40pm, with each route picking up at a number of stops. For the first time, the Pencoed service will call at Port Talbot Railway Station en route at 4.40pm. All services depart the Liberty Stadium post-match at 7.45pm. Tickets are available to purchase on a first- come, first-serve basis from the coach driver on the day (space limited to 49 seats). For full details of the scheduled timetable please check out http://ospreysrugby.com/admin/includes/scripts/www.ospreysrugby.com