Lock Dan Gemine and centre Lewis Edwards bagged the first two of seven home tries at The Gnoll, but the champions didn’t have things all their own way. Despite their lightning start they found themselves trailing 19-12 after 40 minutes as the visitors fought back.
Tries from back row men Ryan Jones and Evan Minto, one converted by Aneurin Evans, drew the Dragons level before scrum half Carter Pritchard scampered over for his half-back partner Evans to add the extras to make it 19-12.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors, champions in 2022, as the Ospreys rallied and scored 30 points without reply to lay down a marker for the rest of the tournament. Oliver Edwards came off the bench to score two of the five second half tries and Charlie Thomas ended with 12 points from six conversions.
Dragons will get a quick opportunity to hit back when they host RGC, 29-5 first round winners over Cardiff Rugby courtesy of three interception tries, on Sunday, 14 January (Ystrad Mynach, 2.30pm). They have made two changes to their starting XV with centre Ethan Paterson and flanker Cerrig Smith coming into the side, while Dylan Roberts and Cai Wardman joining the replacements.
Dragons U18 (v RGC): Joe Salter; Rhys Cole, Logan Yendle, Ethan Paterson, Harry Harkins; Aneurin Evans, Carter Pritchard; George Tuckley, Regan Jones, Max Woodward, Buster Bodkin, Sam Walters, Cerrig Smith, Ryan Jones (captain), Evan Minto
Reps: Ben Palmer, Lewis Jones, Harley Ryan, Jack Gadd, Dylan Roberts, Cai Wardman, Will Ford, Aneurin Paterson
RAG U18 MEN FIXTURES / RESULTS
Round 1
Sunday, 7 January: RGC 29 – 5 Cardiff
Wednesday, 10 January: Ospreys 47 – 19 DragonsRound 2
Sunday, 14 January: Dragons v RGC
Wednesday, 17 January: Cardiff v ScarletsRound 3
Sunday, 21 January: RGC v Ospreys
Wednesday, 24 January: Scarlets v DragonsRound 4
Sunday, 28 January: Scarlets v RGC
Wednesday, 31 January: Cardiff v OspreysRound 5
Sunday, 4 February: Dragons v Cardiff
Wednesday, 7 February: Ospreys v Scarlets
NEW MOON IN SCARLETS SQUAD
Jac Moon, son of former Llanelli skipper and Wales scrum half Rupert Moon, is included in the 39 strong Scarlets squad for their RAG U18 campaign, which kicks-off on Wednesday, 17 January at the Arms Park against Cardiff Rugby (7.15pm).
Former Scarlets back-rower and Wales U20 captain Tom Phillips will head up the coaching team, which includes Tom Hancock (Attack), Lloyd Phillips (Defence), Euros Evans (Forwards) and Phil John (Scrum).
Back-rowers Keanu Evans and Tiaan Sparrow have been appointed co-captains and there are 13 players from the Llandovery College squad that won the WSC Rugby U18 cup at Principality Stadium last month.
The squad also includes four players who left home to play at Hartpury College – Tom Phillips, Nathan Davies, Deian Gwynne, Steff Jac Jones – and one who opted of City Of Oxford College, Callum Woolley.
Phillips side will host Dragons on 24 January and RGC four days later at Parc y Scarlets. They then finish their campaign with a derby clash against the Ospreys at The Gnoll on 7 February.
“We have an exciting group of talented players. We produced some strong performances over the summer and that has given us a platform to build on going into this RAG campaign,” said Phillips.
“There are some fresh faces in the squad and players who have been rewarded for their form for their schools and colleges with the likes of Llandovery College, Coleg Sir Gâr and Ysgol y Strade all enjoying success. It is also great to see boys back with us who have impressed at Hartpury College.”
Scarlets U18 Squad
Forwards: Harri Thomas (Coleg Sir Gâr / Tumble), Will Davies (Coleg Sir Gâr / Carmarthen Quins), Llyr James (Llandovery College / Llandeilo), Tom Phillips (Hartpury College / Llandeilo), Kyle Rossiter (Coleg Sir Gâr / Tenby), Lewis Jones (Coleg Sir Gâr / Tenby), Daf Ebsworth (Llandovery College / Carmarthen Athletic), Yestyn Cook (Llandovery College / Saffron Walden), Jac Pritchard (Coleg Sir Gâr / Llandeilo), Nathan Davies (Hartpury College / Penybanc), Jac Bennett (Coleg Sir Gâr / Carmarthen Athletic), Gabriel Cahsay (Llandovery College / RC Eemland, Amersfoot), Osian Williams (Coleg Sir Gâr / Carmarthen Athletic), Deian Gwynne (Hartpury College / Aberystwyth), Sam Williams (Coleg Sir Gâr / Carmarthen Athletic), Will Evans (Llandovery College / Chobham), Dom Kossuth (Coleg Sir Gâr / Kidwelly), Joe Denman (Llandovery College / Llanishen), Keanu Evans (Strade / Coleg Sir Gâr / Burry Port), Tiaan Sparrow (Coleg Sir Gâr / Ammanford), Alex Ridgeway (Coleg Sir Gâr / Burry Port), Lewys Thomas (QEH Carmarthen / Carmarthen Athletic)
Backs: Jac Moon (Maes y Gwendraeth / Tumble), Cellan Allcock (Ysgol Dyffryn Aman / Amman Utd), Bowyn Clark (Pembrokeshire College / Pembroke), Carwyn Jones (Llandovery College / Carmarthen Quins), Elis Payne (Maes y Gwendraeth / Coleg Sir Gar / Tumble), Steff Jac Jones (Hartpury College / Aberystwyth), Elis Price (Coleg Sir Gâr / Carmarthen Quins), Harri Gwynn Jones (Llandovery College / Aberystwyth), Ioan Thomas (Gower College / Llandovery), Gryff Watkins (Llandovery College / Heathfield & Waldron), Tomos Evans (Llandovery College / Newcastle Emlyn), Sion Jones (Coleg Sir Gâr / Llandeilo), Callum Woolley (City of Oxford / Cardigan), Joshua Jackson (Llandovery College / Llanishen), Owen Griffith (Llandovery College / Hornets), Iori Badham (Llandovery College / Tenby), Tyler Davies (Coleg Sir Gâr / Penlan)
