Ospreys Win 16 -3

The Ospreys notched up a 16-3 derby win over the Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on Friday, with Aled Brew running in the only try of the game

.

But Brew's controversial score against his former side was not the game's only talking point: Wales star Shane Williams was forced to leave the field with an injury.

The flyer went into the game with his right thigh well strapped and was forced to come off just past the half hour mark.

The Dragons were forced into a late change at outside-half when Blues-bound Ceri Sweeney pulled out before the kick-off with a rib injury. He was replaced by 18-year-old debutant Jason Tovey.

At the other end of the scale Adam Black was making his 100th Magners League appearance.

Left-footer Tovey gave the Dragons the lead on eight minutes with a penalty goal after the Ospreys had gone offside on their 22.

But James Hook levelled the score at 3-3 three minutes later from a similar offence right in front of the posts.

Tovey then had to watch as a fine drop-goal attempt rebounded off the right upright.

The Ospreys seemed to have a certain try when Lee Byrne attempted to pass out to Jonny Vaughton on the left wing, but Dragons full-back Kevin Morgan deliberately knocked on.

Hook missed the resulting penalty goal attempt.

Soon after Aled Brew replaced Shane Williams through injury, Dragons openside flank Richard Parks was sin-binned for tackling opposite number Marty Holah without the ball.

In first half injury-time Hook found his range with a penalty from a Dragons scrum offence which saw the home side lead 6-3 at the interval.

The best chance of a try came for the Ospreys five minutes after the break but Vaughton hit the left corner flag before going over.

And the home side thought the impressive Lee Byrne had grabbed the first try but the referee had blown up for a serious injury to Dragons centre Paul Gomer-Davies, who appeared to have been knocked out attempting a tackle on Filo Tiatia.

The game was held up for 12 minutes while Gomer-Davies was stretchered off.

A snap Justin Marshall drop-goal gave the Ospreys a 9-3 lead before Luke Charteris became the second Dragons forward to get a yellow card after a late tackle on Hook.

The first try of the game eventually arrived on 71 minutes when Brew breezed in on the right, converted by James Hook


The scorers:

For Ospreys:
Try: Brew
Con: Hook
Pen: Hook 2
Drop: Marshall

For Dragons:
Pen: Tovey

Yellow card(s): Parks (Dragons) - taking the man without the ball, 31; Charteris (Dragons) - high tackle, 58.

The teams:

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Johnny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Filo Tiatia, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Jonathan Thomas, 20 Gareth Owen, 21 Jonathan Spratt, 22 Aled Brew.

Dragons: 15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Rhodri Gomer Davies, 11 Richard Mustoe, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Andy Williams, 8 Joe Bearman, 7 Richard Parks, 6 Colin Charvis (c), 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Andrew Hall, 3 Rhys Thomas, 2 Ben Daly, 1 Adam Black.
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Lee Harrison, 18 Michael Owen, 19 Lewis Evans, 20 Aled Thomas, 21 Phillip Dollman, 22 Wayne Evans.

Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)