Brave Dragons suffered late heartbreak for a second successive weekend on the road as Ospreys snatched victory with the final play of a dramatic BKT United Rugby Championship encounter at Electric Brewery Field.
Fly half Tinus de Beer grabbed a first half try as dominant Dragons looked the more dangerous side in Bridgend in the opening 40 minutes but found themselves locked tougher at 7-7 at the interval.
Two penalties from full back Angus O’Brien nudged the Men of Gwent ahead in front of a vocal derby crowd before the late twist.
With prop Cebo Dlamini yellow carded and the visitors down to 13 and uncontested scrums it was home wing Keelan Giles who made the numerical advantage count as he raced over for a final minute winner.
It was cruel blow for Dragons who had battled hard throughout after losing two props inside 12 minutes, but for the second weekend – after the late loss to Munster – they found themselves having to take the consolation of a losing bonus point.
Filo Tiatia had made three changes for the league clash with Wyn Jones, Ryan Woodman and Seb Davies called into the pack.
However, Dragons were dealt an early blow with prop Robert Hunt down in midfield and carried off to be replaced by Dlamini inside 90 seconds.
A huge booming kick into space from O’Brien gave Dragons a first platform before spilled ball was pounced upon by Fine Inisi and Che Hope just failed to make the resulting kick ahead.
Dragons lost a second prop inside the opening 12 minutes as Wyn Jones was replaced by youngster Jordan Morris.
But a scrum penalty from the new-look front row saw O’Brien nudge a kick to the corner and when the drive was stopped the ball was popped wide to Dyer who was inches short with his inside dart.
Wales international Dyer then linked up with Inisi to send the centre close and this time patience told as Aneurin Owen opened up space with the flat pass and Tinus de Beer went over. O’Brien converted.
Twice Dragons worked penalties to get more field position and O’Brien went to the corner. But this time Ospreys defence held firm as they cleared their lines on the half hour.
Ospreys had been devoid of any real attacking platform but hit back seven minutes before the break when home nine Reuben Morgan-Williams - released by Wales for the game - spotted a gap at the breakdown and raced over to level the scores.
A searing break down the left wing saw Dyer the beneficiary from fine work from Richards, de Beer and O’Brien, but he was just shunted into the tramlines by a superb cover tackle as he battled for the line.
Dyer was denied again seconds later as Dragons went left but a fine tackle from James Ratti this time ensured the teams were locked at 7-7 at the break.
An early second half penalty turnover from Brodie Coghlan saw O’Brien point the posts from near halfway but his kick pulled left of the target.
However, another penalty two minutes later for a lineout infringement saw O’Brien make immediate amends to nudge Dragons ahead by three points.
At the other end of the field, the full back had to be alert to cover a dangerous grubber in behind as Ospreys started to whip the ball around in the back line probing for gaps.
A huge scrum penalty gave Dragons a reprieve and from the resulting attack another for hands in the ruck allowed O’Brien to confidently add three more.
Tiatia’s men had to go to the well to repel wave after wave of powerful attacks as the game wore on, with a brilliant turnover from Ryan Woodman and clearing kick from de Beer giving Dragons rare field position.
Driving rain arrived with ten minutes to go and a high tackle on Harri Houston saw the key moment as Dlamini was yellow carded.
The resulting penalty went to the corner and Ospreys took advantage as they drove over with Lewis Lloyd the scorer. Walsh’s conversion slipped wide.
The next scrum saw Dragons down to 13 men and the game go to uncontested scrums in dramatic fashion.
It proved decisive as Ospreys suddenly had a two man advantage and made it count late on as Giles went over with 50 seconds left to settle the game.
Timeline:
18m De Beer t O’Brien c 0-7
33m Morgan-Williams t Walsh c 7-7
47m O’Brien p 7-10
58m O’Brien p 7-13
74m Lloyd t 12-13
79m Giles t Walsh c 19-13
Ospreys Rugby: Iestyn Hopkins, Dan Kasende, Phil Cokanasiga, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Fender, Ryan Smith, James Ratti, Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morse
Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Steffan Thomas, Rhys Henry, Marco de Witt, Gwilym Evans, Cormac Foley, Max Nagy, Harri Houston
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, David Richards, Fine Inisi (Paea 67), Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer, Tinus de Beer, Che Hope (Williams 64); Wyn Jones (Morris 12), Brodie Coghlan (Burrows 56-62), Robert Hunt (Dlamini 2), Levi Douglas (Lewis-Hughes 64), Seb Davies, Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall, Harri Keddie
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Jordan Morris, Cebo Dlamini, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Evan Minto, Rhodri Williams, Fetuli Paea, Cai Evans
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 7th game)
Attendance: 5,281
