Ospreys edge out Dragons in Guinness PRO12
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 03/04/16 4:55pm
Ospreys spoiled Taulupe Faletau's farewell party with a 26-20 victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade
Wales coach Warren Gatland and assistant Rob Howley were keen observers of Faletau's final home game before he moves to Bath this summer, but it was Rhys Webb who really caught the eye.
The scrum-half had a storming game, scoring one of his side's tries with the others coming from wing Jeff Hassler, full-back Dan Evans and flanker Sam Underhill in the bonus-point victory.
But the Welsh coaching duo would also have been impressed by home wing Hallam Amos, who grabbed two of the Dragons' tries to add to a touch down, conversion and penalty from full-back Carl Meyer.
Pre-match, Ospreys coach Steve Tandy demanded his side end their season with a bang - and they started brightly with a back-line move that left the Dragons exposed enough for Hassler to cross after just four minutes.
However, the Dragons hit back with a great team try as scrum-half Sarel Pretorius spread the ball left just inside his own half before it arrived in the hands of Tyler Morgan. The centre sped downfield and fed Amos to cross in the corner.
The Ospreys responded by pounding the home line. This presented Webb with the chance to dive over from five metres. Biggar hit the conversion to put the visitors seven points clear.
The Dragons were down to 14 men soon after when lock Rynard Landman deliberately knocked on at a ruck, leaving referee John Lacey no option but to reach for a yellow card.
The hosts pulled back three points when Meyer kicked a penalty from halfway but they were exposed again before half-time when a long ball from midfield gifted Evans the easiest of scores.
Biggar's touchline conversion was excellent and the Ospreys went in at the break with an 11-point advantage.
However, the Dragons hit back when Amos grabbed his second try following a chip over the Ospreys defence, before collecting and diving over for an effort that went unconverted.
The pendulum swung back to the Ospreys on 51 minutes when the home side were stretched in midfield and Underhill found a gap to score next to the posts.
Yet the home side would not lay down. Meyer's score under the sticks and subsequent conversion with 12 minutes remaining put the Dragons back in the match and they squeezed the opposition.
It came to nothing however as the Ospreys held their ground.
