Harry Rees-Weldon scored a try on debut as Dragons RFC was defeated 57-24 by Ospreys in a Welsh derby in the United Rugby Championship at Swansea.com Stadium.
Wales Under-20s ace Rees-Weldon was called in for his first start and impressed for Filo Tiatia’s men before grabbing a first-half score.
But the injury-ravaged Men of Gwent, without more than 20 players, could not secure the double over the Ospreys as the home side kept their playoff hopes alive.
Ospreys’ only defeat at Swansea in the Championship since October was to Leinster in February, and Dragons threatened to rip up the form book early on with a bright start and try from Rees-Weldon.
But the home side grabbed the lead by the break and never looked back.
Rhodri Williams and Jared Rosser, with his third in two games, got over in the second half, but there was no point as Ospreys ran clear in the closing minutes.
Dan Lydiate was named in the starting line-up to play his final game of professional rugby on Welsh soil as he returned to Swansea.
Head Coach Filo Tiatia made a total of seven changes, with Rees-Weldon making his debut. And the young wing was straight into the action to mop up a dangerous kick in behind from Hardy.
Dragons enjoyed some early territory themselves, but a crosskick from O’Brien came to nothing as the visitors had stayed offside.
Lydiate and Rees-Weldon combined to win a penalty out wide as Ospreys looked to spread the play, as a tetchy opening saw both sides look for a foothold.
Both teams were uploading some big hits, with Dragons first troubling the scorers when O’Brien slotted a penalty after Ospreys were pinned for not rolling away.
Another penalty at scrum time saw O’Brien again kick long into touch and the home half. And more patient play saw debut ace Rees-Weldon sore after a lovely flat pass from O’Brien sent him into space.
Ospreys hit back immediately as Hardy and Lake made breaks down the middle before Will Spencer bobbled the pass and then drove over from close range to cut the lead to 10-7.
The game was flowing from end to end with Ospreys working at the breakdown, stopping Dragons twice before the home side turned to their driving maul with seven minutes to the break.
The home backs joined the forwards and powered over with Lake the beneficiary for a second home score and the lead.
A superb kick from Edwards had Ewan Rosser scrambling back, and from another lineout the home side looked to repeat the feat, only to be held up by a solid defence from the visitors.
Ospreys made a lightning start to the second half and kept the ball alive with Hardy just short before a penalty for offside on the line.
A blooded Westwood was replaced by Anderson, with Jared Rosser into midfield and brother Ewan onto the wing, before pressure told from the maul as the home side were stopped short before the ball was picked up and scored by Ben Warren.
Dragons needed a respite and field position and won that with a penalty that O’Brien kicked to the corner. But the maul was stopped before play broke down out wide.
Ospreys wrapped up the bonus with half an hour to play, with Giles bumping off men in midfield and running under the posts to give Edwards a simple conversion.
A series of penalties put the Dragons under the shadow of the posts before patient play and a nice step sent Rhodri Williams over. O’Brien added the extras.
Any hope of a comeback was short-lived as Ospreys, once again, struck from the restart with Edwards going over before he added a second three minutes later, after Evardi Boshoff’s dummy and burst in midfield.
Jared Rosser ignited try bonus hopes with a fine finish – his third in two games – after some sustained away pressure told.
Hardy, Giles and Morgan-Williams, who added late gloss for the hosts as they added late scores.
Scorers:
Ospreys: Tries: Will Spencer, Dewi Lake, Ben Warren, Keelan Giles (2), Dan Edwards (2), Kieran Hardy, Reuben Morgan-Williams. Conversions: Dan Edwards (5), Jack Walsh.
Dragons RFC: Tries: Harry Rees-Weldon, Rhodri Williams, Ewan Rosser. Conversions: Angus O’Brien (2), Owen Williams.
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Jack Walsh, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Jac Morgan (c), 6 James Ratti, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Ben Warren, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas. Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Iestyn Hopkins.
Dragons RFC: 15 Ewan Rosser, 14 Harry Rees-Weldon, 13 Joe Westwood, 12 Aneurin Owen (c), 11 Jared Rosser, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Dan Lydiate, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ryan Woodman, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Chris Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rhodri Jones. Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Nathan Evans, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 George Young, 21 Che Hope, 22 Will Reed, 23 Huw Anderson.