The Ospreys bounced back from derby defeat to the Scarlets with a bonus-point win over another Welsh rival, hanging on for a 26-20 success away to the Newport Gwent Dragons.

With their Guinness PRO12 play-off hopes effectively over, the Ospreys still had plenty of pride to play for, and ran in three first-half tries before wrapping up the bonus point early in the second half.

Jeff Hassler had them on their way just three minutes in, and despite Hallam Amos’ response – the first of two tries on the night – the Ospreys were able to pull clear by half-time.

Rhys Webb got their second, and Dan Evans’ effort just before the break allowed the visitors to lead 19-8 at half-time at Rodney Parade.

Amos grabbed his second early in the second half but the response, through Sam Underhill, was immediate.

However Carl Meyer’s try heading into the final ten minutes set up a grandstand finale but despite their best efforts, they could not find a final score, going down on what could be Taulupe Faletau’s final game for the Dragons at Rodney Parade.

The first half was played at a ferocious pace and the Ospreys had the lead after just three minutes. Hassler was the man to finish but it came after some great hands from the backline, with crisp passing opening up the Dragons and sending the winger over on the left.

From the touchline, Dan Biggar couldn’t convert, and soon after the Dragons were on level terms.

Just like the visitors, it came from some slick backline play, with Tyler Morgan showing his pace and intelligence to slice through before finding Amos outside him for the try – his third in his last two games.

Like Biggar, Dorian Jones could not convert from out wide, making it 5-5 after ten minutes.

Webb had made his Test return for Wales during the Six Nations, and picked up a second try of the Guinness PRO12 season with a trademark snipe.

After a number of charges by the forwards, the scrum-half finally spotted a gap big enough and was able to force the ball down despite the best efforts of Lewis Evans.

Biggar converted and the Ospreys looked in control when the Dragons lost Rynard Landman to the sin-bin for a blatant deliberate knock-on.

But despite being down to 14, it was actually the Dragons who scored next, Meyer nailing a long-range penalty to make it 12-8.

The Dragons saw out the remainder of the sin-bin period, but then conceded right on the stroke of half-time. It came after good work from the forwards, and with the home side stretched, Owen Watkin’s fine miss-pass took out the remaining defence and sent Evans over for the simple try.

Biggar had converted from the touchline to make it 19-8 at the break, and the Dragons needed to start the second half quickly.

They did so, with Amos again the man on the end of it. He had a lot to do, but after collecting it out wide on the left, he chipped past Sam Davies, collected and had the pace to get over. Jones couldn’t convert from out wide.

The Ospreys soon had breathing space once again though, and the bonus point. After Watkin had been stopped just short of the line, the ball came back to the left where Aaron Jarvis found Underhill for the powerful burst and score. Biggar stretched the lead to 26-13 with the extras.

Time was running out for the Dragons to come back, but a powerful finish by Meyer, who converted his own try, allowed them to cut the deficit back to six points with 12 minutes remaining.

The Dragons had their chances in the final stages, but couldn’t break through with a final attacking line-out coming to nothing.

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