REEBOK REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND UP
The Cardiff Blues were also successful – they defeated Llanelli Scarlets 17-16 in a thrilling game at Llandovery.
The Blues were in control for long periods of their game thanks to tries from Adam Powell and Rhys Gill and seven points from the boot of outside half Dai Flanagan. The Scarlets struck back, after trailing 17-3 at one stage, but were unable to salvage anything from a tough contest. Aled Thomas kicked three penalties and converted a try from full back Craig Evans.
The Ospreys withstood some serious pressure from their hosts to register a 22-12 victory thanks to tries from James Dixon, Jonathan Spratt and Ross Cridland. Phil Seargant and Craig Jones bagged tries for the Dragons, after the Ospreys had lead 17-0 at the break, but in the end it was not enough to secure a first win of the season.
On Tuesday evening, Cardiff Blues under 16s secured a second win of the season, 8-7 over the Dragons at Rhymney. A try from Spencer Gibson, converted by David Langdon, was the single contribution for the home side in the final moments, but a try from Simon Barry and a penalty from centre and captain Phil Williams earned the Blues South, who had Sam Warburton and Chris Holcombe yellow-carded, a welcome win.
Not such good news for the Blues North who lost their second successive game of the campaign, 20-8 to the Ospreys at Aberdare.
At under 18 level, the Blues lost 26-18 to the Llanelli Scarlets at Pontypridd’s Sardis Road.
Full-back Kevin James and wings Chris Thorne and Adam Shields kept the home side in the hunt, but the Scarlets, fresh from their victory over the Dragons two weeks ago, were too good in a first half that saw them leading 21-8 at the interval.
Richard Connors, Bedyr Harris, Richard Thomas and John Davies crossed for tries for the Scarlets with Rhys Priestland adding three conversions.
In the other game at under 18 level, the Ospreys defeated the Dragons 20-17 despite having try scorer Lloyd Harris sent off for a late tackle and Richard Kelly yellow carded. The Dragons also lost Lewis Evans to a yellow.
The Dragons took a 10-0 lead courtesy of a penalty from Rhys Jones and a try from wing Jimmy Norris. However, the Ospreys hit back with first half tries from Kelly and Harris with Nicky Roberts making sure of victory with penalties in the 70th and 74th minutes. Roberts finished the game with 10 points. Team manager John Davies said, “It was a game that was evenly contested throughout but we managed to sneak it in the final 10 minutes.”
Scores
Under 16
Dragons 7 Blues South 8
Blues North 8 Ospreys 20
Under 18
Blues 18 Scarlets 26
Ospreys 20 Dragons 17
Under 20
Scarlets 16 Blues 17
Dragons 12 Ospreys 22
