Newport Gwent Dragons missed out on an opportunity to boost their Heineken Cup qualification bid last night when they lost 27-18 to a full-strength Ospreys side.
The Ospreys benefited from moments of individual brilliance from Williams, Bowe and Bishop in particular which countered the poor kicking of James Hook – missing five penalties to keep the result in doubt until the very end.
Despite a try for Hook after 20 minutes following great work from Tommy Bowe, Dragons spent much of the game ahead with fly half Shaun Connor in fine kicking form to punish the Ospreys’ every discretion where James Hook could not reciprocate. A yellow card against Dragons’ back row Jamie Ringer meant that the visitors greeting the half time whistle with a point up but a man down.
Dragons held their lead until another penalty and yellow card, this time for centre Rory Sidey enabled the Ospreys to push ahead and a try from Shane Williams after 54 minutes left the Dragons holding on for a losing bonus point.
Andrew Bishop followed Sidey and Ringer to the bin after 56 minutes and the tit-for-tat penalties kept the Dragons in the mix until a drop goal from Hook at the death pulled the Ospreys away and left the Men of Gwent going home with nothing.
Ospreys:
Byrne, Bowe, Hook, A. Bishop, Williams, Biggar, M. Phillips, D. Jones, Bennett, A. Jones, Levi, Wyn Jones, Smith, Holah, R. Jones.
Replacements: Owen for Byrne (41), Spratt for Biggar (65), Knoyle for M. Phillips (80), James for D. Jones (51), Shervington for Bennett (41), Gough for Levi (51), Tiatia for R. Jones (65).
Scorers:
Tries: Hook, Williams Con: Hook Pens: Hook (3) Drop-goals: Biggar, Hook
Dragons: Tovey, Wyatt, Gomer-Davies, Sidey, Brew, Connor, W. Evans, Black, S. Jones, R. Thomas, MacDonald, Charteris, Lydiate, Ringer, Bearman.
Replacements: Walker for W. Evans (55), Gustafson for Black (59), Willis for S. Jones (59), L. Evans for Ringer (59). Not Used: N. Hall, A. Hall, Dolman.
Scorers:
Pens: Connor (6)
Att: 5,010
Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)
The Ospreys benefited from moments of individual brilliance from Williams, Bowe and Bishop in particular which countered the poor kicking of James Hook – missing five penalties to keep the result in doubt until the very end.
Despite a try for Hook after 20 minutes following great work from Tommy Bowe, Dragons spent much of the game ahead with fly half Shaun Connor in fine kicking form to punish the Ospreys’ every discretion where James Hook could not reciprocate. A yellow card against Dragons’ back row Jamie Ringer meant that the visitors greeting the half time whistle with a point up but a man down.
Dragons held their lead until another penalty and yellow card, this time for centre Rory Sidey enabled the Ospreys to push ahead and a try from Shane Williams after 54 minutes left the Dragons holding on for a losing bonus point.
Andrew Bishop followed Sidey and Ringer to the bin after 56 minutes and the tit-for-tat penalties kept the Dragons in the mix until a drop goal from Hook at the death pulled the Ospreys away and left the Men of Gwent going home with nothing.
Ospreys:
Byrne, Bowe, Hook, A. Bishop, Williams, Biggar, M. Phillips, D. Jones, Bennett, A. Jones, Levi, Wyn Jones, Smith, Holah, R. Jones.
Replacements: Owen for Byrne (41), Spratt for Biggar (65), Knoyle for M. Phillips (80), James for D. Jones (51), Shervington for Bennett (41), Gough for Levi (51), Tiatia for R. Jones (65).
Scorers:
Tries: Hook, Williams Con: Hook Pens: Hook (3) Drop-goals: Biggar, Hook
Dragons: Tovey, Wyatt, Gomer-Davies, Sidey, Brew, Connor, W. Evans, Black, S. Jones, R. Thomas, MacDonald, Charteris, Lydiate, Ringer, Bearman.
Replacements: Walker for W. Evans (55), Gustafson for Black (59), Willis for S. Jones (59), L. Evans for Ringer (59). Not Used: N. Hall, A. Hall, Dolman.
Scorers:
Pens: Connor (6)
Att: 5,010
Referee: Andrew Small (RFU)
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