**The opening salvo of the Guinness PRO14 derby festival did not disappoint as Cardiff Blues and Scarlets claimed Welsh bragging rights against Dragons and Ospreys, respectively.** And we start today's Media Watch in Newport where [**Dragons** boss Dean Ryan was not in a merry mood](http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18971326.dean-ryan-dragons-derby-cardiff-blues-washout/) after watching his side slip to a narrow 13-12 defeat to the Blues. “I don’t think that you learn a lot from that. You get back, you get fresh and get ready to go again because that was a war of attrition when you look at small behaviours,” he said. “It was a tight derby game in tough weather conditions. We’ve got to challenge ourselves about sitting in games like that because some of our behaviour allowed them to march up the field too easily. “A couple of poor penalties, a few kick chases put them in our 22. Ultimately if you spend a lot of time in your own 22 then they are going to come out the right side of a one-point win.” **Scarlets** head coach Glenn Delaney [took plenty of encouragement](http://www.scarlets.wales/article/plenty-to-work-on-but-we-are-delighted-with-the-win/) from the way his team fought back from 14-6 down to triumph 16-14 over the Ospreys to secure derby spoils. A late Angus O’Brien try proved the difference for the hosts at Parc y Scarlets after Reuben Morgan-Williams’ first-half try and three Stephen Myler penalties had put Ospreys ahead. “We are delighted with the win, I’m really happy with the finish but there is plenty for us to work on. We stayed in the game and that’s what you have to do in a derby,” said Delaney. “There were a lot of things we weren’t happy about in terms of our skillsets and penalty count – we were very ill-disciplined and we need to correct that.” The first round of Guinness PRO14 derbies concludes today with a huge interprovincial clash between Connacht and Conference A leaders Ulster at The Sportsground. Andy Friend [has made six changes for the visit of Dan McFarland’s men](http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/1226/1186498-changes-aplenty-for-connacht-and-ulster-ahead-of-derby/), with Eoghan Masterson set to make his 100th appearance for the province in his favoured back-row position. Captain Jarrad Butler also returns to the side at No.8, along with Shane Delahunt, Quinn Roux, Caolin Blade, Tom Daly and Tiernan O’Halloran.
