Dragons throw title race wide open

The Dragons Under 18s put one over on the Ospreys last night to throw wide open the race for a place in the final of WRU Age Grade Championship.

Having been beaten when the two sides met at Newbridge last month, the Gwent region bagged a bonus point in beating the Ospreys 27-14 at Llandarcy.

It was a victory that not only made up for their defeat on home soil, but one that takes them into second place in the championship behind runaway leaders the Blues.

Full-back Matthew O’Brien, whose kicking so far this season has been nothingshort of exemplary, kicked off the scoring with a penalty before Dafydd Morgan crossed for the first of three first half tries for the visitors.

O’Brien converted and though Matthew Morgan was on the mark with a 23rd minute penalty, the Dragons were back into their stride three minutes later when O’Brien converted his own try whilst the hosts were down to 14 men.

A Morgan penalty before Tom Ashmead’s try on the stroke of half time made it 22-6 to the Dragons and though the Ospreys threatened a comeback of sorts after the interval, it was the visitors who made sure when replacement J-B Bruzilier bagged a second try in as many matches to make the game safe.

Morgan’s third penalty and a late try from Matthew Vaughan provided the Ospreys with some respectability, but the night belonged to the Dragons who now take on the Blues at Newbridge on November 4.

“Absolutely delighted,” said Dragons team manager Billy Vyvian.

“We were determined to make up for the defeat last month and though the Ospreys proved difficult opposition, we were thoroughly deserving of our win.”