Dragons score at the death to beat Ospreys in dramatic opening-day scenes

A last-gasp try from Luke Yendle fired the Dragons to a 23-21 victory over the Ospreys in a dramatic Welsh derby at Rodney Parade.

The Ospreys looked home and dry on 75 minutes as they held a commanding 21-13 lead with a man advantage, but after Lloyd Evans made it a one-score game again the drama really began. Dai Flanagan's side fought to the end and a cracking break from scrum-half Rhodri Williams put the hosts on the front foot deep in the Ospreys' 22.

The Dragons lay siege to the Ospreys line before Yendle powered his way over the line right underneath the crossbar to send the home crowd wild. But it wasn't over just yet, as outside-half Evans slammed over the conversion to get the Dragons' United Rugby Championship campaign off to a flying start.

For the Ospreys this was definitely one which got away and Rodney Parade has become somewhat of a bogey ground for Toby Booth's men who have not won in Newport since 2021. Lloyd Evans opened the scoring from the kicking tee after less than a minute but the Ospreys pack began to flex its muscles with a series of powerful driving mauls allowing Dan Edwards to kick them into an early lead.

The Ospreys finally turned pressure into points with a clever move off the back of a lineout opening up the Dragons defence. Dewi Lake received the ball from Adam Beard before his well-timed pass sent Luke Morgan galloping through the home side's defence. Morgan raced into the 22 before drawing in the last defender to put Keiran Williams over for the opening try which Edwards converted.

But the Dragons responded well with a further three points from Evans' boot while their attack was beginning to stretch the Ospreys. A powerful charge and offload by Shane Lewis-Hughes to Dane Blacker who punted