DERBY DELIGHT
Dragons inflict more misery on the struggling Ospreys: PRO14
TWO tries in the final four minutes secured a dramatic derby victory for the Dragons over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.
Scores from George North and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler plus the steady boot of Luke Price had put the struggling Ospreys on course for just their second win of a troubled season.
But it unravelled in the final ten minutes as the Dragons pulled off some late drama to deny the west Wales region and cap a promising festive period.
Dean Ryan’s men were looking for a fourth straight home derby victory, but despite having the better of possession and territory in the firsthalf, they only had a controversial Leon Brown try and Sam Davies’ extras from the tee to show for it as the match ticked towards its climax.
However, much like their last home victory against the Scarlets, a rousing final ten minutes saw late call-up Rio Dyer cross for a try to level the scores in the dying minutes before Adam Warren dived over for a remarkable winning try..
The hosts had received a body blow shortly before kick-off, when
Wales international Cory Hill and winger Ashton Hewitt were ruled out.
As for the Ospreys, they knew that a response was crucial after their 44-0 humbling in Llanelli to the Scarlets last week.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, little of
note happened in the opening quarter as both sides felt their way into this derby.
Davies had an early opportunity to open the scoring against his former employers, only for his 8th minute penalty to strike the uprights.
That was the closest either side got to troubling the scorers until North marked his return to action on 20 minutes.
A misplaced pass by the Dragons while they were attacking allowed Luke Price to hack the loose ball ahead.
The Dragons got back initially to stop Price’s chase, but when the Ospreys secured a turnover, there was acres of space for Scott Williams to find North with a well-placed chip kick.
The Wales wing, who hasn’t been seen since limping out of Wales’ World Cup semi-final defeat against South Africa, didn’t last the full 80 minutes though - limping off seconds before full-time in worrying scenes for Wayne Pivac.
Davies and Price traded penalties before the Dragons contentiously moved in front five minutes before half-time.
A lovely angle from Wales prop Brown saw him take Elliot Dee’s inside ball at full-pace, cantering over from 20 metres out for a score that almost certainly would see his membership to the front-row union revoked.
The Ospreys were far from happy, with Dee’s telling pass appearing to be a clear forward one. Referee Andrew Brace didn’t see fit to check with the TMO - allowing the Dragons to lead at the break.
Shortly after the restart, Davies pushed the Dragons out in front from the tee, only for Price to strike back immediately with the boot.
The turning point came after 50 minutes as the Ospreys crossed for a second try to move ahead once more.
A kick was not dealt with by the Dragons, gifting the visitors prime attacking position.
And it was all too easy as Price put Thomas-Wheeler under the sticks with a delayed pass.
From there, it felt as though the struggling region were starting to find their feet. Having struggled for ball and field position in the first 40 minutes, they came out on top in those metrics in the second-half.
Even if they couldn’t do all that much with it themselves, it largely meant that the Dragons couldn’t either.
Morgan Morris nearly added a third try, only for the number eight to be held up over the line.
However, much like the Dragons’ victory over the Scarlets before Christmas, their heads never dropped once they went behind.
And once the clock ticked into the final ten minutes, the hosts grew in belief - just like they did against the other west Wales region - that they could win this, while the Ospreys crumbled.
The Dragons’ belief grew when Ross Moriarty was dragged down inches short after a trademark bust from the back of a scrum. The hosts didn’t panic and Davies found Dyer with a pinpoint crosskick to level the score with minutes remaining.
And the drama culminated in the final minute as Warren went over for the winning try after the Ospreys failed to deal with a hack through by Tavis Knoyle.
DRAGONS: Will Talbot-Davies; Jared Rosser, Tyler Morgan, Tom Griffiths, Ashton Hewitt; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams (c); Brok Harris,
Elliot Dee, Leon Brown; Joe Davies, Cory Hill; Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham, Ross Moriarty.
REPS: Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Harri Keddie, Tavis Knoyle, Jacob Botica, Adam Warren.
OSPREYS: Cai Evans; George North, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Scott Williams, Luke Morgan; Luke Price, Aled Davies; Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Ma’afu Fia; Adam Beard, Bradley Davies; Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric (c), Morgan Morris.
REPS: Scott Otten, Darryl Marfo, Simon Gardiner, Dan Lydiate,
Sam Cross, Shaun Venter, Marty McKenzie, Hanno Dirksen.