A late Colin Charvis-inspired try sealed the issue as the Newport Gwent Dragons ended a run of six defeats in all competitions with a bonus point win over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade. Given the driving rain and swirling wind, this was a very entertaining derby encounter in the circumstances. A moment of magic from wily veteran Colin Charvis, six minutes from time, helped decide the outcome as his pinpoint kick out to the left set up full-back Jason Tovey for a dramatic try. Shaun Connor, himself a former Osprey, added the conversion and although the visitors hit back almost immediately with a penalty from their teenage number 10 Dan Biggar, the Dragons held firm for their first league win since September. The victory is particularly timely for Paul Turner’s men as it comes after back-to-back Heineken Cup defeats to Toulouse and away losses in Bath, Gloucester, London Wasps and Leinster. The Ospreys ventured to Rodney Parade boasting a poor record of just one win in five visits to the Newport venue. Looking to gain ground on Magners League leaders Munster, Ospreys boss Sean Holley brought Gavin Henson back into the team at full-back and fielded a strong-looking side despite the absence of Wales internationals Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, James Hook and Alun Wyn Jones, who were all rested. Scrum half Mike Phillips was also a welcome inclusion on the Ospreys’ replacements bench after enduring a nine month lay-off due to a serious knee injury. With regular captain Tom Willis kept in reserve, the Dragons were skippered by lock Luke Charteris. The night was also a notable one for experienced Dragons winger Gareth Wyatt who became the first player to make 100 starts in the league. Adding some further spice to the match, former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones is now the Dragons’ attack coach and much of the pre-match focus was on what effect he might have on proceedings. But the Dragons made a nightmare start with Joe Bearman knocking on as he received the kick-off and after some sharp attacking from the Ospreys, Biggar opened the scoring with a second minute penalty. Turner’s side regrouped quickly and a neat chip kick from Rory Sidey saw them gain good territory. From the resulting lineout, Adam Jones trundled up close to the try line. The Dragons, who elected to play into the wind and rain, turned down two kickable shots at the posts before a well-executed lineout maul helped carve out their first try. With Tommy Bowe brought off his wing to defend in midfield, hooker Steve Jones peeled off that maul and popped a pass to the left for scrum half Robert Lewis to go over for his first league try. Connor missed the conversion and an offside in midfield saw the Ospreys quickly retake the lead courtesy of a Biggar penalty, which glanced over off the left upright. The scores were coming thick and fast and the Dragons crossed the visitors’ whitewash again in the 14th minute. Lewis and Hoani MacDonald punched considerable holes in the Ospreys’ defensive line and after a couple of phases close to the line, prop Rhys Thomas barged his way over and grounded the ball under pressure from Ryan Jones. Connor added the conversion and tagged on a 22nd-minute penalty, which he floated in on the stiff breeze, for a 15-6 advantage. At this point, the Dragons forwards were really taking it to the opposition with Charteris dominant on the restarts and man-of-the-match Bearman popping up all over the place. The Ospreys were making far too many errors but they clicked in the 28th minute when the returning Henson dotted down in the left corner after a lovely back-line move. Biggar scooped a long pass out for Bowe, who had darted into midfield on a trademark run, and the Ireland international drew the cover before offloading for Henson to cover the last yards to the line. After the missed conversion, the Ospreys regained possession and were on the front foot for much of the remainder of the first half. Centre Sonny Parker had to be cut off by Lewis and Richard Fussell as the Ospreys threatened to slice open the hosts’ rearguard again. And the final posts of the half came just before the interval when a Biggar kick from distance cut the gap to 15-14. However, a costly 41st-minute penalty, awarded against Cai Griffiths at a ruck, saw Connor bisect the posts once again and restore the Dragons’ four-point lead. With the rain still piling down, play was concentrated between the respective 22s and although replacements Phillips and Filo Tiatia added much to the Ospreys’ play, it was the Dragons who struck for the next try. On 54 minutes, the Ospreys’ defence was caught napping off a set piece. Dragons flanker MacDonald picked up a loose ball off a scrum and dashed into space before offloading in time for Wyatt to crown his night with his 25th league try. Connor’s missed conversion left it at 23-14 in the home side’s favour. But once again, the Ospreys wasted little time in responding to that score. They conjured up a fine try as Parker, taking a pass from Andrew Bishop, blitzed his way past three players. Henson ran onto Parker’s pass at pace and fended off his opposite number Tovey to crash over the line for his second touchdown. Biggar added the extras to make it a two-point game but the young fly-half was crucially off target when presented with decent penalty chance some minutes later. With time ticking away, the Dragons clung onto that 23-21 advantage but they added some much-needed cushion when off turnover ball, Charvis brilliantly dinked a left-footed kick out wide where an unmarked Tovey was able to gather it and have an easy run-in for the bonus point try. Connor landed the conversion, much to the delight of most of the 7,138-strong crowd. And although Biggar replied with a penalty, the Ospreys had to settle for a losing bonus point as the Dragons determinedly saw out a win which has them eighth in the table.
