**Ospreys Reignite Play-Off Hopes with Commanding Derby Victory Over Dragons**
The Ospreys have kept their United Rugby Championship play-off ambitions alive in spectacular fashion, crushing regional rivals Dragons 57-24 at the Swansea.com Stadium. The home side ran in nine tries, producing a devastating attacking display before their Swansea supporters and showing signs their season may yet offer further drama.
The encounter had been heavily trailed as a farewell to Ospreys’ stalwarts, with Justin Tipuric sidelined by injury in what could have been his last showing on home soil. Adam Beard, who is set to continue his career abroad, managed to mark his own Swansea send-off with a resilient performance having returned from injury. On the opposing side, Dragons bid farewell to the esteemed Dan Lydiate, whose career has been defined by defensive excellence.
The opening stages began brightly for the Dragons, with Lydiate earning an early turnover that allowed Angus O’Brien to land the game’s first points from a penalty. Welsh youth international Harry Rees-Weldon, making his senior debut, added a well-worked try shortly afterwards courtesy of a delicately timed pass from O’Brien, sending hope through the Dragons ranks for a potential upset. At 10-0 ahead, the visitors looked buoyant, while Ospreys’ fans feared another blunt attacking outing following previous limp defeats.
However, Ospreys responded almost immediately, regaining composure and field position from the restart with Daniel Kasende’s aerial prowess. Scrum-half Kieran Hardy’s incision set up Will Spencer to cross the line, reducing the gap and signalling Ospreys’ intent. Before the break, Dewi Lake capped a robust maul—led emphatically by Beard—by powering over to put Ospreys 14-10 up at the interval.
The second half belonged almost entirely to Mark Jones’ men as their attacking philosophy flourished. Ospreys’ set-piece dominance became more apparent, and prop Ben Warren surged over for the first try after the interval once the maul had stalled. A few minutes later, Keelan Giles skinned the Dragons’ defensive arc for a sparkling solo score after Ospreys had stolen a lineout, securing the bonus-point try.
To their credit, Dragons displayed moments of resistance. Scrum-half Rhodri Williams weaved through to claw back a try, and wing Jared Rosser’s powerful running later notched another for the visitors. However, it scarcely checked the Ospreys’ momentum.
Fly-half Dan Edwards seized two tries courtesy of slick interplay involving Kasende, Beard, and Keiran Williams, further stretching the advantage. Centre Evardi Boshoff’s stepping run also contributed to the onslaught, highlighting the depth of attacking threats found across the Ospreys backline. Kieran Hardy capitalised on a fortuitous bounce to notch another, and, as the Dragons tired in the closing minutes, quickfire tries from Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams underlined the hosts’ attacking intent.
For Dragons, despite moments of flair and passion, the second half proved a sobering reminder of the gulf that can widen in regional derbies. Yet, both teams’ farewells to longstanding servants provided poignant subplots, drawing deserved ovations from the home crowd.
Attention for Ospreys now turns to an end-of-season tour in South Africa, where they will face the Sharks and Lions in must-win encounters if their play-off pursuit is to continue. This win—marked not just by points but by a reenergised team spirit—will send them south with revived hope and confidence.
While the victory may not erase recent disappointments or the harsh end they faced in the European Challenge Cup, it signals a resurgence just when it mattered most. The question now is whether this late-season flourish can carry them through one of rugby’s most challenging away trips, and into the business end of the United Rugby Championship.
The Swansea faithful will be watching closely, hopeful that this emphatic derby performance is a sign of things to come rather than the final home flourish.