Yendle in place to steal it for Dragons

■ By SIMON THOMAS

Dragons……………23pts

Tries: Keddie 28, Yendle 84

Conversions: Evans 29, 85

Penalties: Evans 1, 24, 77

Ospreys …………… 21pts

Tries: Williams 20, Conbeer 46 Conversion: Edwards 21 Penalties: Edwards 7, 34, 38

THE Dragons claimed a third successive victory over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade in the most dramatic fashion thanks to a converted try in the 84th minute of this URC opener.

It was replacement prop Luke Yendle who got the ball down under the posts, with 13-point flyhalf Lloyd Evans landing the resulting kick to snatch the spoils.

Delighted Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan commented: “I thought the character to pull it back was excellent and it’s something we can really build on.

“I am just really proud of the problem solving and us having clarity in what we were doing. That is real maturity from us. We spoke in the week about going 12 rounds. I might have to change that to six rounds because I don’t think I can go through that again!”

Amid an early exchange of penalties between fly-halves Evans and Dan Edwards, it was the home side who had the better of the opening quarter in terms of territory and possession.

But then, in the 20th minute, the Ospreys carved out a well worked converted try.

Off an Adam Beard lineout take, hooker Dewi Lake moved to scrum-half and fired out a pass which put Luke Morgan into a gap, with the winger popping a scoring feed to centre Keiran Williams.

Evans – a summer signing from Gloucester – reduced the deficit off the kicking tee before the hosts conjured up an even better try of their own to go ahead.

The ball went through some 15 pairs of hands, with Wales wing Rio Dyer involved three times and centre Aneurin Owen making a key break out on the right before second row Matthew Screech delivered the offload that allowed flanker Harri Keddie to gallop in under the posts.

Evans converted only for his opposite number Edwards to land a brace of penalties to give the Ospreys a 16-13 lead at the end of an entertaining first half.

The visitors extended their advantage six minutes into the second period when impressive fullback Jack Walsh broke through and sent former Scarlets wing Ryan Con-beer in at the left corner.

That came straight after Keiran Williams had been held up over the line following another scything run from Walsh.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Dragons replacement hooker James Benjamin was yellow carded for collapsing a lineout maul and that seemed to be that. But the 14 men dug deep to earn a penalty which Evans slotted to set up a grandstand finish.

Hitting back: Harri Keddie celebrates getting the first try for Dragons

PICTURES: Huw Evans Agency

And, in the final play, after a succession of forward carries close to the line, it was tighthead Yendle who burrowed over with Evans slotting the match-winning conversion to signal scenes of wild celebration on and off the pitch.

Player of the match, Ospreys full-back Jack Walsh said: “There’s a sense of frustration. We controlled most of the match pretty well, but we just didn’t close it out.

“Our accuracy at the end let us down. The Dragons are a quality side and if you give them easy territory, they are going to take it and they made us pay.”