**Christmas may be different this year but the presence of Welsh derbies on the Guinness PRO14 fixture list offers a reassuring constant – as well as four full-blooded fixtures to look forward to.** Any match-ups between the four Welsh heavyweights are never short of heart, effort and skill and this year’s tussles will be no different. Dragons face Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day and Scarlets on New Year’s Day but for today’s flashback in our 12 Days of Derbies, we are focusing on a memorable triumph the Newport-based side enjoyed against Ospreys in December 2018. The lead changing hands, heavy hits on both sides and late drama – this was a derby that had it all… **Dragons 23-22 Ospreys, 30 December 2018** Going into this fixture, Welsh derbies ranked somewhere around the post-dinner washing up on a list of things Dragons fans were looking forward to at Christmas. They had not won against any of their fellow regions for four years and since that victory over Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day 2014, 24 derbies had come and gone without Dragons tasting success. When Ospreys visited Rodney Parade on the penultimate day of 2018, a change in fortunes was long overdue. Dragons were being led by Ceri Jones, looking for his first win since taking control on an interim basis following the departure of Bernard Jackman a fortnight previously. Josh Lewis slotted two early penalties to open up a lead for Dragons which was halved by Sam Davies as the sides traded blows. The pivotal moment of the first half came in the 28th minute as Jared Rosser pounced on indecision between two Ospreys players to claim Rhodri Williams’ clearance kick and race away to score the first try of the game.
