Both teams hardly needed reminding that open rugby would be the only source of contentment for them as they strove for maximum points - but, ultimately, their anxieties got the better of them. The match had its moments. But most of them were dressed in frustration as the trylines seemed beyond the reach of both sides for long periods.

It was a pity that neither team could quite live up to the expectations of their supporters, however much they tried - and the Ospreys could only wait for results from elsewhere to determine whether this win was enough to qualify them as one of the two best runners-up. For the winners, Justin Marshall conjured occasional moments of the old magic - but victory was tainted by injury to Mike Powell, the victim of one of many heavy and brutal clashes on an afternoon of high emotion

The Ospreys had more ball and territory for all but the final 10 minutes of a scrappy and occasionally spiteful first half. With so much at stake tempers frayed easily on both sides, but the Welsh team made two early incursions that had the Sale Sharks struggling.

Five minutes in, Steve Tandy gave the travelling fans huddled together in one corner something to cheer on a cool afternoon, ploughing through the defence in support of Brent Cockbain's powerful charge from two metres.

A double turn-over moments later allowed Stefan Terblanche to stroll unmolested 50 yards to score between the posts, and the hosts were 12-0 down before they had even warmed up.

A penalty from short range by James Hook stretched the lead to 15 points in as many minutes, and the Ospreys spent the rest of the session trying to build on their advantage but found Sale particularly belligerent.

Dean Schofield and Andrew Lloyd entertained themselves with some minor touchline grappling and were sent to the sin bin after 18 minutes.

Sebastien Chabal the long-haired French captain of the Sharks, took Hook out off the ball but escaped censure. Shane Williams, whose size is still often held against him but who tackles with the vigour of men considerably bigger than himself, saved a try with a ball and all effort on Chris Mayor at full gallop and only yards from the line as Sale mounted the first of many counterattacks.

They were pressing hard on the line when Chabal lost patience with Tandy and was shown yellow for stamping on his back.

Then Ben Foden brought the crowd to their feet, weaving through the static defence on the blindside and touching down only to be called back when Mr Rolland spotted some Sale shepherding. It can only have added to Sale's frustration.

The Sharks stretched their sinews and imagination to near breaking point to bridge the gap in the second half but lacked cohesion. They took some comfort from a score soon after the resumption when Hook transgressed at a ruck in front of his posts and was given 10 minutes' detention. A quick tap, some fancy handling in the wall and Juan Fernandez Lobbe crossed for a try.

In Hook's enforced absence Gavin Henson edged the Ospreys a little further clear with a well-struck penalty. Thereafter, however, the game went into a prolonged stalemate as neither team could string together enough good passes to crack the defence.

There were numerous niggling encounters on and off the ball. Near the end the sight of Powell lying motionless on the pitch for a worryingly long time before being carried off encapsulated the torrid nature of the exchanges.