Pro12: Ospreys 35-17 Newport Gwent Dragons
- Published
Guinness Pro12: Ospreys v Newport Gwent Dragons |
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Ospreys (14) 35 |
Tries: Habberfield, Baldwin, Giles 2, Leonard Cons: Matavesi 5 |
NG Dragons (3) 17 |
Tries: Screech, Howard Con: Jones 2 Pen: Macloed |
Wing Keelan Giles scored two tries as Ospreys claimed a bonus-point win over Newport Gwent Dragons.
The 18-year-old took his tally to eight scores in four matches after Tom Habberfield and Scott Baldwin crossed in the first half.
Matthew Screech and Pat Howard claimed Dragons' consolation tries.
Dragons started well, but a 10th consecutive defeat against the Ospreys leaves them languishing in 10th place with only one win this season.
Ospreys moved briefly to the top of the table, before being displaced by Leinster, who beat Connacht 24-13.
Ospreys were missing 10 players on Wales duty, with centre Josh Matavesi moving to fly-half in the absence of Dan Biggar and Sam Davies.
The Fiji international repaid the coaches' confidence with a man-of-the-match display behind a dominant pack.
Dragons had three absent with Wales, and benefitted from Dmitri Arhip's sixth-minute sin-binning for using an elbow to fend off a tackler.
Referee Ben Whitehouse seriously considered a red card and watched several TV replays before deciding a yellow was sufficient.
Once restored to full strength, Ospreys took control but it took tries either side of half-time to turn that dominance into a clear advantage on the scoreboard.
Giles - called up to train with Wales before the autumn internationals but not added to the squad - was put in for his first try by Matavesi's ball skills before showing pace and a cool head for his second.
Replacement Brendan Leonard claimed Ospreys' fifth try before Screech and Howard crossed as Dragons produced a late flurry.
Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy told BBC Radio Wales: "I'm really proud of the boys. They got what they deserved for the effort they put in throughout the week. It's been well-documented how many players we've got missing.
"It is a proud moment for the Ospreys today. There was a real team-ethic, it's all built on us as a team and as a squad."
Ospreys: Dan Evans; Keelan Giles, Ben John, Ashley Beck, Eli Walker, Josh Matavesi; Tom Habberfield, Paul James; Scott Baldwin, Dmitri Arhip, Lloyd Ashley, Adam Beard, Dan Lydiate, Olly Cracknell, Joe Bearman
Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Ma'afu Fia, Rob McCusker, Scott Otten, Brendon Leonard, Jonathan Spratt, Dafydd Howells
Newport Gwent Dragons: Tom Prydie; Pat Howard, Sam Beard, Jack Dixon, Adam Warren; Nick Macloed, Tavis Knoyle; Sam Hobbs, Thomas Rhys Thomas, Brok Harris, Nick Crosswell, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans, Nic Cudd, Ed Jackson.
Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, Ollie Griffiths, Sarel Pretorius, Geraint Rhys Jones, Ashton Hewitt
Referee: Ben Whitehouse
Assistants: Ian Davies, Wayne Davies
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (all WRU).
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