Alun Wyn shows his worth one more time
OSPREYS legend Alun Wyn Jones appeared to say goodbye to the Swansea. com Stadium when he was replaced in the 70th minute of the region’s final home game of the season.
If it is to be his last game on the ground then it was a fitting finale as he was at the forefront of a committed performance from the home pack to quell abrasive Dragons.
The Gwent side haven’t won since October and it’s easy to see why when they are so ill-disciplined. Needless dangerous challenges on young fly-half, Jack Walsh, were made by Ross Moriaty and Sio Tomkinson, which resulted in yellow and red respectively.
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said: “We let ourselves down as there was a lot of emotion in the week but we overstepped the mark with some unnecessary hits which cost us.”
A try from captain Nicky Smith gave Ospreys an early lead after a well-worked lineout move involving Sam Parry and Ethan Roots put the visitors on the back foot.
Walsh converted and added a penalty as Dragons were continually penalised at the scrum by referee, Jaco Peyper.
It took them until the second quarter to reach the opposition 22 but on doing so they picked up their first points with a penalty from Will Reed.
Walsh kicked a second penalty before being on the receiving end of a late challenge from Moriarty, which saw him sin-binned and the hosts capitalised with their second try.
Dragons had just lost Will Griffiths to a shoulder injury when their former star, Dan Lydiate, finished off a neat round of passing before a longrange penalty from Angus O’Brien left them trailing 18-6 at the interval.
Moriarty returned in time to see Morgan Morris take advantage of some weak defence to score before Tomkinson was sent off for a high tackle in the same passage of play.
Iestyn Hopkins scored Ospreys’ fifth before Dragons showed spirit
with a try from Jordan Williams but the relief was short-lived as Keiran Williams raced 45m to score.
Dewi Lake was yellow carded for a high challenge on rival hooker, Bradley Roberts, to allow Dragons the final say with a late penalty try award after Gareth Thomas was yellow-carded for collapsing the maul.
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: “Welsh derbies are very tough but we managed to rise above a war of attrition. If it is to be Al’s last game here then he ended it in style – he’s one in a million.”