Otten try clinches derby arm-wrestle
MAT PROTHEROE hailed the Ospreys’ performance as they fought their way past a resilient Dragons outfit for their fifth win in six games.
Man-of-the-match Protheroe, who has been a revelation since joining from Bristol last summer, lit up this Welsh derby with sensational footwork on a bitterly cold night in Newport.
The Dragons, who were ravaged by injury, gave a good account of themselves but lacked the firepower of the Ospreys back-three.
“It was scrappy but both teams threw all that they had at it and we were good enough to come out on the right side of the result,” said former England U20 star Protheroe.
“Through the week we were given a licence to counter-attack and run. We maybe overplayed at times but in the end, we came out on the right side.
“Since we came together in pre-season we set some targets and we’ve come on in leaps and bounds over the past six months compared to last season.
“There’s a really good vibe in the camp and we are looking to push forward and improve.”
Tries from Protheroe, George North and Scott Otten along with 13 points from the boot of Stephen Myler was enough to get Toby Booth’s side over the line. Jamie Roberts and Jared Rosser scored the Dragons’ tries with Josh Lewis kicking ten points.
Myler and Lewis exchanged early penalties before Luke Morgan was sent to the sin bin for intentionally slapping the ball forward. The hosts wasted no time in making the most of their numerical advantage as Rosser squeezed in at the righthand corner after some neat handling from Nick Tompkins.
Lewis improved their lead to 10-3 with a tremendous touchline conversion.
But the Ospreys hit back with Protheroe crossing for his third try of the season after a brilliant pass from Myler who added the extras. Myler kicked a further three points to put Ospreys ahead 13-10 at half-time.
Lewis levelled the score early in the second half but a powerful burst by Owen Watkin and a lovely pass allowed North to run in unopposed for a try which Myler converted.
The Dragons responded in kind with a powerful five metre scrum giving Roberts the perfect platform to power his way over the line.
The pendulum swung yet again as Lewis Evans was penalised at the breakdown allowing Myler to nudge the Ospreys back ahead. And the Ospreys put the result beyond doubt when replacement hooker Otten touched down from short range off the back of a well-worked driving lineout before Lewis was sin binned late on for a late tackle.
Former Wales centre Roberts slammed the Dragons’ slow start to the game. He said: “We weren’t good enough in that first half hour.
“Our kicking game was poor, and our chase was poor. They had a really dangerous back-three out there. If you are going to kick long you’ve got to kick to compete and our kicks landed in that dangerous middle ground which allowed them to counterattack.”