Derby defeat for Dragons at St Helen's

Rio Dyer grabbed a first try of the season but Dragons endured a miserable night in Swansea as Ospreys secured a 31-14 victory in the BKT United Rugby Championship in atrocious conditions at St Helen’s.

The full force of Storm Boelo ensured wet and windy weather rocked the new-look ground throughout the Round 4 encounter with both sets of players having to contend with difficult conditions.

Ospreys' only loss in their last nine matches at St Helen's was to Harlequins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2016 and they looked in little mood to relinquish that record in the first half.

With a strong wind to their backs, the home side built up a half-time lead with a brace from Reuben Morgan-Williams and score from Sam Parry. Dyer hit back just before the interval.

A score straight after the restart gave the Men of Gwent a mountain to climb and three yellow cards in the second period ensured Dragons could not mount a fightback despite another try from Anzelo Tuitavuki.

Ospreys were returing to St Helen's for the first time since 2020 and twice in the opening four minutes they kicked deep from penalties and, with a blustering wind to their backs, set up attacks.

The forwards went to work and after punching holes it was left to scrum half Morgan Williams to burrow over from close range. Edwards added the extras.

A first penalty of the game to Dragons allowed Tinus de Beer to kick to the corner and the driving lineout worked up close before Ospreys infringed again.

The home side sacked the next lineout move but solid play from the forwards rattled up close before neat hands from Fetuli Paea gave Tuitavuki a chance but he lost control under pressure.

Good work from Harry Beddall to stop a quick tap secured another penalty as Dragons looked to stay in the home half as long as possible with the wind against them.

The conditions were making it hard for Dragons to exit as Ospreys went to the skies to force field position as the blustery wind howled down the field.

Beddall peeled off the back of a scrum and Dillon Lewis tore down the blindside but a big turnover from Harri Deaves stopped the attack.

Ospreys scored a second of the night from nothing after a lineout steal saw the ball break loose in midfield and home number nine Morgan-Williams scooped up and raced over again. Edwards converted.

A high bomb from De Beer was contested by Aneurin Owen, but the ball evaded the on-rushing Lewis-Hughes and Dyer as they chased possession.

Ospreys showed their ruthless edge again before the break as they kicked to the corner and duly and punched the drive over with Sam Parry the man to touch down.

However, Dragons hit back in injury time as Seb Davies carried well, the forwards sucked men in and Rhodri Williams threw a long pass for Dyer to step inside two men for his first try of the season.

The comeback, though, was extinguished a minute after the restart as Ospreys drove over from a lineout, a penalty try was awarded and Rhodri Williams yellow carded.

Things went from bad to worse as captain Carter was forced off with over half an hour to go.

Williams returned to the field but within seconds Tinus de Beer was yellow carded after a monster driving lineout marched up field.

The home set piece went to work, and replacement Ross Moriarty was the man to pile over from the driving maul.

Dragons were dominating the statistics in the second period and, back to 15 men again, they finally made pressure count when Tuitavuki went over after bumping off tackles.

But Tiatia’s men picked up a third yellow of the night when Owen was pinged for a high shot as the game petered out.

Timeline:

06m Morgan-Williams t Edwards c 7-0

30m Morgan-Williams t Edwards c 14-0

36m Parry t 19-0 40m Dyer t De Beer c 19-7

42m Penalty t 26-7 54m Moriarty t 31-7

64m Tuitavuki t De Beer c 31-14

Ospreys Rugby: Tom Rogers, Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Steffan Thomas, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, Ross Moriarty, Luke Davies, Lawson Creighton, Lalakai Foketi

Dragons RFC: Huw Anderson (Lloyd 64), Rio Dyer (Inisi 40), Fetuli Paea, Aneurin Owen, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Tinus de Beer, Rhodri Williams (Hope 55); Rodrigo Martinez (Morris 60), Elliot Dee (Burrows 60), Dillon Lewis (Coleman 60), Seb Davies, Ben Carter (Screech 49), Barny Langton-Cryer (Minto 55), Harry Beddall, Shane Lewis-Hughes

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Jordan Morris, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, Evan Minto, Che Hope, Jac Lloyd, Fine Inisi

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Attendance: 5,592