Ospreys grind out 12-7 win over Dragons in Guinness PRO12
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 03/01/16 2:54pm
Ospreys fought off a second-half comeback from Newport Gwent Dragons to clinch a 12-7 Guinness PRO12 win and pick up their second Welsh derby victory in six days.
After a narrow win at Scarlets on Boxing Day, the Ospreys eventually saw off the Gwent outfit by two tries to one at the Liberty Stadium despite failing to score in the second half.
Ospreys were indebted to first-half tries from former Dragon Dan Evans and wing Hanno Dirksen, while Ed Jackson went over for the visitors midway through the second half.
The result means Ospreys extend their record of not having lost to another Welsh side at the Liberty Stadium since October 2010.
Ospreys rested Wales fly-half Dan Biggar with Sam Davies coming in to replace him as one of five changes from the win against Scarlets.
However, two missed penalties from Davies on four and 12 minutes respectively meant the home side had to wait to see their dominance reflected on the scoreboard.
The first of their two first-half tries came through full-back Evans after an incisive break by Dan Lydiate, a finely weighted pass by Davies, and a missed tackle from Ed Jackson. However, Davies missed the conversion attempt.
When the Dragons did get a good ball scrum-half Sarel Pretorius and lock Rynard Landman looked dangerous, but the visitors were made to defend more often than not.
And on 35 minutes, the Dragons conceded a second try when scrum-half Tom Habberfield put wing Dirksen over. Davies added the extras this time.
Heavy rain arrived after half-time to make the second half something of a leveller. Ospreys, though, were not helped when Lydiate was forced off after a clash of heads with Aaron Jarvis.
Ospreys did have their chance to put the match beyond doubt but Davies' 40-metre break did not produce the try it perhaps deserved.
At the other end, Jackson just managed to get over the line from a lineout drive on 66 minutes, with Jason Tovey's conversion taking the Dragons within five points of Ospreys' lead.
Biggar came on for the final 15 minutes but his contribution was largely defensive as Ospreys hung desperately for victory.
