OSPREYS: Morgan-Williams double as Ospreys christen the rebuilt St Helen’s with a bonus-point win over the Dragons

Storm Boelo threw everything at the rebuilt St Helen’s, but it couldn’t spoil the first night at the new home.

The Ospreys beat the Dragons 31-14, with five tries and a bonus point, in front of 5,592 hardy supporters.

Reuben Morgan-Williams, who joins up with Wales next week, scored twice, and the visitors finished the night with three players sin-binned.

It’s a second derby win over the Dragons in three weeks, after the 38-31 thriller at Rodney Parade. After a predictably tough start to the season in South Africa, Mark Jones’ men have now won three on the spin.

Reuben Morgan-Williams double puts the Ospreys in control

It was the Ospreys’ first competitive game at the redeveloped ground, and their first at St Helen’s since 2020. Before tonight, their only defeat in nine games there came against Harlequins in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2016.

They wasted no time. Twice in the first four minutes they kicked deep from penalties with the gale at their backs, and the forwards went to work.

Once the pack had punched enough holes, Morgan-Williams burrowed over from close range, and Dan Edwards added the extras.

The Dragons could barely get out of their own half, with the Ospreys putting the ball high and letting the wind do the rest.

The second try came out of nothing. A lineout steal left the ball loose in midfield, and Morgan-Williams scooped it up and raced clear, with Edwards converting again.

Then came the maul. The Ospreys kicked to the corner, drove the Dragons back, and co-captain Sam Parry touched down to make it 19-0.

The Dragons finally hit back in first-half stoppage time. Seb Davies carried, Rhodri Williams made the space, and Wales wing Rio Dyer stepped inside two men for his first try of the season to make it 19-7 at the break.

Penalty try, Ross Moriarty and three Dragons yellow cards

Any hopes of a comeback lasted a minute. The Ospreys drove a lineout over the line, a penalty try was awarded, and Rhodri Williams was sent to the sin bin.

Things only got worse for the visitors, as captain Ben Carter was forced off with more than half an hour to go.

Williams was barely back on the field when fly-half Tinus de Beer followed him to the bin, after a monster driving lineout marched upfield.

The Ospreys went straight back to the maul, and replacement Ross Moriarty piled over for the fifth try.

Back to 15 men, the Dragons had a final say, as Tonga wing Anzelo Tuitavuki bumped off tackles to go over.

But that was soon followed by a third yellow card, as Aneurin Owen was sin-binned for a head-on-head tackle.

Ospreys up to seventh, with Cardiff at St Helen’s next

The win lifts the Ospreys to seventh in the URC, while the Dragons drop to 12th after back-to-back defeats by their rivals.

Next up at St Helen’s are Cardiff, on Saturday, 31 October (7.45pm).

Ospreys team v Dragons

Ospreys: 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Sam Parry (co-capt), 3. Tom Botha, 4. Rhys Davies, 5. Ryan Smith, 6. Liam Wright, 7. Harri Deaves, 8. Morgan Morris, 9. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 10. Dan Edwards, 11. Keelan Giles, 12. Keiran Williams, 13. Owen Watkin (co-capt), 14. Iestyn Hopkins, 15. Tom Rogers.

Replacements: 16. Efan Daniel, 17. Steffan Thomas, 18. Rhys Henry, 19. James Ratti, 20. Ross Moriarty, 21. Luke Davies, 22. Lawson Creighton, 23. Lalakai Foketi.