Ospreys 28-14 Dragons: Ospreys get back to winning ways at the Liberty Stadium
Last Updated: 27/10/17 11:12pm
Ospreys ended a seven-match losing streak in all competitions and recorded a bonus-point derby victory over Dragons at the Liberty Stadium.
The home tries came from fly-half Dan Biggar, hooker Sam Parry, replacement scrum-half Jason Leonard and replacement prop Ma'afu Fia. Biggar also kicked two penalties and a conversion.
Dragons' two tries came from prop Leon Brown and Elliot Dee, while Gavin Henson - who was one of six changes in the away side's line-up - supplied two conversions.
Flanker Sam Cross made his Guinness PRO14 debut only four days after his inclusion in Wales' squad for the forthcoming autumn internationals.
The hosts were missing back-rowers Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, Dan Baker - who is ruled out for the season - and scrum-half Rhys Webb.
Steve Tandy's side enjoyed a wealth of early possession but were unable to convert that into points as Dragons, who lost centre Tyler Morgan with an ankle injury after just 13 minutes, notched up 100 tackles in the first quarter.
Four times Ospreys went through extended attacks - one going through 26 phases - before Biggar crashed over the line to break the deadlock after 24 minutes, although the outside-half was unable to convert his own score.
But Ospreys were only able to hold onto their lead for six minutes as Brown celebrated his Wales squad call-up by going over from the Dragons' first venture into the opposition 22. Henson converted to give the visitors a 7-5 lead.
However, Ospreys bounced straight back to score their second try six minutes before the break as Parry went over on the right after good work from Alun Wyn Jones and Keelan Giles - although Biggar missed his second conversion.
Just before the break, Biggar was successful with a penalty kick giving his side a 13-7 interval lead after Henson missed a penalty with the last kick of the half.
Ospreys started the second period in positive fashion with Biggar kicking a 43rd-minute penalty, but Dragons refused to throw the towel in despite a hard first-half defensive effort.
The visitors came up with a second try when hooker Dee forced his way over from short range as Henson added the extras.
With only two points between the teams, the match was in the balance until a driving maul saw Leonard cross over for Ospreys' third try and - 10 minutes from time.
After, a relentless Ospreys attack ended with Fia getting over the line with Biggar's conversion securing their 14-point winning margin.
