Pro14 Rainbow Cup: Dragons 26-42 Ospreys

Ospreys secured their second Pro14 Rainbow Cup win with a bonus-point triumph against Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Tries from Dewi Cross, Morgan Morris, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Dan Evans and Max Nagy, plus 17 points from Luke Price's boot sealed the success.

Dragons responded with a try double from Jonah Holmes and scores from Dan Baker and Rio Dyer.

Ospreys move up to third in the table behind leaders Benetton.

This was the last rugby match at Rodney Parade this season, with Dragons playing against Glasgow at Cardiff City Stadium next month because the pitch is being re-laid in Newport.

Dragons welcomed back Wales flanker Ollie Griffiths, who was fit again after damaging a biceps against Glasgow at Principality Stadium in March.

Griffiths has suffered another injury-affected season with only seven appearances after previous hamstring and ankle problems.

Ospreys again included their two British and Irish Lions, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, while lock Bradley Davies made his first Ospreys start since November 2020.

Wales wing Holmes was the beneficiary of a pinpoint cross-kick from Sam Davies before brushing off attempted tackles from Dan Evans and Luke Morgan to score. Davies converted.

Jonah Holmes has scored 10 tries in his last nine games for Dragons

Price responded with a penalty as Ospreys dominated the scrum exchanges, before Tipuric used the captain's challenge successfully for a high Griffiths tackle on Ospreys centre Owen Watkin.

Tipuric was involved again after he was the victim of being lifted above the horizontal in the ruck by Dragons hooker Taylor Davies who was yellow carded.

The visitors took advantage of their extra man by scoring 17 points as their forward dominance told. Ospreys took the lead with scrum-half Morgan-Williams releasing wing Cross to score.

Dragons skipper Aaron Wainwright lost his side's captain's challenge after his claim of a forward pass was dismissed.

Number eight Morgan Morris was driven over after the driving line-out proved effective, which Price converted before slotting over a penalty.

Dragons responded just before half-time with another well-worked try for Holmes as the hosts trailed 20-14 at the interval.

Price extended that lead with his third penalty early in the second half, before visiting hooker Sam Parry was yellow-carded for a professional foul. Former Ospreys number eight Baker took advantage with a try against his old side.

Ospreys scrum-half Morgan-Williams produced a fine individual effort to pick up the third try, before full-back Evans powered over for the bonus-point score against his former side.

Holmes turned creator to allow Dyer to score in the left corner - earning Dragons a try bonus point in defeat - before replacement wing Nagy scored in the left-hand corner on his Ospreys debut to complete an entertaining encounter.

Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan: "Respecting areas like the scrum and breakdown, that was the lesson for us in the first 30 minutes.

"That period meant we were chasing. Even some of our good bits were a bit frantic because we were always behind."

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth: "It was a good win. On the back of a fairly ordinary performance last week, it was important we learned our lessons by turning things around and not just by outcome.

"Our game management, lineout and scrum improved immeasurably and that gained us a good foundation to win the match."

Dragons: Josh Lewis; Jonah Holmes, Jack Dixon, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies, Gonzalo Bertranou; Greg Bateman, Taylor Davies, Leon Brown, Joe Davies, Ben Carter, Aaron Wainwright (capt), Ollie Griffiths, Dan Baker.

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Chris Coleman, Joe Maksymiw, Taine Basham, Huw Taylor, Dan Babos, Ioan Davies.

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Dewi Cross; Luke Price, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Ethan Roots, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Todd Gleave, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, Rhys Davies, Will Griffiths, Matthew Aubrey, Joe Hawkins, Max Nagy.

Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Assistant Referees: Aled Evans, Ben Breakspear (both WRU)

TMO: Rhys Thomas (WRU).