Cardiff and Ospreys share spoils as young Welsh fly-half shines

Cardiff and Ospreys were forced to share the honours on New Year's Day after a drama-packed festive derby ended in a 13-13 draw at the Arms Park.

13 points from fly-half Dan Edwards - including a fine individual score - helped mitigate the blow of having second-row James Fender sent off after 39 minutes. However, they were unable to snatch another late victory, having beaten the Scarlets at the death last week, as some late chances went begging.

High-flying Cardiff, who had James Botham and Dafydd Hughes to thank for their tries, did little to make the most of their numerical advantage after Fender's dismissal - with Teddy Williams and Rhys Litterick both being sin-binned in the second-half.

In front of a sell-out crowd, a draw seemed a fair result in a match that probably won't be remembered as a vintage.

The latter part of 2024 had become synonymous with Cardiff making slow starts to matches, before turning things around.

However, with a new year came a new approach. From the off, the home side were on top - dominating the early exchanges as they pinned the Ospreys back.

One early driving maul was stopped illegally by the visitors, but they would be powerless to halt another - with Cardiff rumbling over for the opening try after seven minutes.

Wales back-row Botham rose from the pile of bodies as the scorer, although Callum Sheedy's conversion drifted wide.

Cardiff's spell in charge of possession and territory would last a little while longer, until the Ospreys burst into life after 15 minutes. From a powerful scrum near halfway, Reuben Morgan-Williams broke into the Cardiff half - finding half-back partner Edwards in support. However, as the Ospreys recycled, the usual reliable Morgan Morris lost his grasp on the ball