A superb all-round performance from James Hook inspired the Ospreys to a fine victory in the EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester at Twickenham.

The fly-half had a hand in both Ospreys tries, setting up Andy Bishop for the opening touchdown on 22 minutes before finding Alun Wyn Jones on 47 minutes.

Hook converted both scores, as well as kicking over three penalties.

Leicester never settled in the game, with all their six points coming in the first half from the boot of Andy Goode.

The victory avenged the Ospreys’s 2007 final defeat to Leicester, who lacked invention and verve so abundant in their Welsh opponents.

Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda had played into the Ospreys hands, opting for centre Ollie Smith ahead of Tom Varndell on the right wing to counteract the potent threat Shane Williams.

The east Midland giants had dominated the early exchanges of the first half, taking the lead on four minutes when Goode kicked over a 25-metre penalty after a ruck infringement.

And the Premiership team’s forwards soon camped themselves deep inside Ospreys territory, but a fumble from centre Dan Hipkiss thwarted any hopes of a score.

But Goode – who had missed two earlier penalty efforts – doubled Leicester’s lead with a drop-goal on 16 minutes

But within six minutes the Ospreys were level – courtesy of Hook’s vision and Leicester’s lacksidasical defending.

The fly-half popped an inside pass for centre Bishop, who brushed off limp challenges from George Chuter and Goode before diving over for the first try of the game.

Hook added the extras and Leicester, after imposing their early authority, were beginning to lose the plot, with the Wales number 10 pulling the creative strings.

A wonderful, fleet-footed break from Hook required a full-stretch tackle from Ellis to prevent a certain try-scoring opportunity.

Indiscipline from the Tigers forwards resulted in captain Martin Corry receiving a stern lecture from referee Alain Rolland, warning any further discrepancies would lead to the sin-bin.

But despite their dominance, the Ospreys failed to capitalise on their advantage – Hook missed a 35th-minute penalty attempt, while Leicester just about cleared a Williams chip into the try area.

Instead, they had to make do with a slender one-point lead at the interval.

Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda (right) watches on in disbelief

But that advantage was extended seven minutes after the break through Wyn Jones, courtesy of a scything break from the excellent Lee Byrne.

The Wales full-back was assisted by a missed tackle from Chuter in midfield, but quick recycling and change of direction from Jonny Vaughton found Hook, whose perfectly timed pass found the second row for a powerful five-metre touchdown.

Leicester, subdued and lacking any attacking threat, were soon chasing an 11-point deficit when a thumping Hook penalty from the right touchline sailed through the middle of the posts.

With Leicester’s beleaguered forwards looking increasingly forlorn, the Ospreys squeezed further penalties from their tired and dejected opponents, with Hook adding six points with two fine penalty strikes to seal the game and the trophy.

The Ospreys kept pushing forward and replacement Gareth Owen touched down in the corner after a dazzling Williams break, only for referee Rolland to overrule the score for an earlier forward pass.

The decision had little effect on the Ospreys as the celebrations began in earnest two minutes later when Rolland blew for full time.

In de al jaren durende vechtscheiding tussen ex-Beatle Paul McCartney (65) en Heather Mills (40) valt wellicht op 17 maart het verdict. Rechter Hugh Bennett zou niet alleen op die dag een vonnis willen vellen, hij ijvert er volgens de PA ook voor dat delen van zijn beslissing openbaar worden.