Reebok Regional Championship round up

However, the Ospreys are hot on their coat tails after making light work of the Scarlets at St Helens, winning 54-21 with seven tries to boot.

The Blues, who had won one and drawn one going into last night’s game, picked up a bonus boot courtesy of four tries. Blindside Christian Dacey got the ball rolling with no.8 Lewis Mills, full back James Loxton and wing Joe Xiberras adding numbers two, three and four.

Joe Deacon added a couple of conversions to round off another comfortable evening for the table topping Blues.

The Dragons, who bagged a point against the Scarlets at Stradey Park last time out, trailed 17-3 at half time – David Langdon kicking a penalty – but rallied after half time with Langdon adding a second penalty and Danny Ellis converting a try from flanker Gareth Patterson.

In the end, however, they were second best and remain at the foot of the table with one point from three games.

Gafyn Cooper, high performance manager at the Blues said, “We made some changes after half time and lost a little fluency, but to be honest we are pleased with all 22 boys. They played well before half time and stayed in front despite a concerted effort from the Dragons in the second half.”

The Ospreys, who have had an indifferent start to the season, eased past the Scarlets with seven tries.

Centre Ashley Beck, one of the form players in the championship, helped himself to a brace as did no.8 Rory Pitman and Kristian Phillips.
Scrum half Anthony Buselli added the seventh with half back partner Daniel Biggar converting five tries and adding three penalties for a 19-point haul.

A Ieuan Davies try put the Scarlets on the board in the first half, but despite further scores from Matthew Lemon (try), Daniel Newton (conversion) and Daniel Etteridge (two penalties and a drop goal), the Ospreys were easy winners with a bonus point too.

The Ospreys under 20s were also celebrating a victory this week – they defeated the Dragons 13-7 on Tuesday night with Chris Morgan scoring a try and Dane Clancy adding the extras. A Clancy penalty gave the Ospreys a 10-0 interval lead and when Tom Cole added a second penalty early in the second half the Ospreys appeared to be home and dry.

However, the Dragons struck back with a converted try from Sean Watkins and threatened to steal the spoils in a thrilling final 20 minutes. Thankfully, for the Ospreys that is, they held on and left their visitors empty handed.