The Ospreys made a winning start to life at St Helen's, beating the Dragons 31-14 in a wet and windy Swansea. A crowd of 5,592 braved the conditions to see the Ospreys' first match at their new venue, with Reuben Morgan-Williams crossing for two tries. Sam Parry and Ross Moriarty added the other scores on an enjoyable night for Mark Jones' side.
The Ospreys did play at St Helen's once in 2020, but the famous ground had not been their permanent home for 21 years. Having travelled over 10,000 miles in the opening month of the season, Mark Jones' side will have been pleased to have somewhere to call home.
Fast Start and First-Half Dominance
That much was apparent by their fast start, with the first try coming after six minutes. After some concerted pressure near the Dragons' line, scrum-half Morgan-Williams burrowed over for the first score by an Ospreys player at their new ground.
Torrential rain and strong winds affected matters for much of the half, although the Dragons - playing into the wind - did have some moments of quality. They should have levelled the scores soon after, only for Anzelo Tuitavuki to spill the ball with the tryline in sight.
That would prove costly, with Morgan-Williams crossing for a second on the half-hour mark after the Dragons failed to deal with Lalakai Foketi's kick through. The Ospreys helped themselves to a third try, with co-captain Parry powering his way over for his 50th try for the club at the back of a maul.
Second-Half Maul Dominance
It did appear that the Dragons would end the first-half scoreless, only for Wales wing Rio Dyer to cross with the final act of the opening 40. Dyer wouldn't return after half-time, while Dragons captain and Wales second-row Ben Carter was forced off early in the second-half with a head injury.
The Ospreys started the second-half perfectly. After the Dragons fumbled the kick-off into touch, a powerful driving maul from the edge of the 22 brought a penalty try. Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams was sent to the sin-bin as a result.
The Dragons didn't concede while down a man, but no sooner had he returned, were they down to 14 again. Another huge maul saw Tinus de Beer yellow carded. The Ospreys immediately took advantage, going to the corner where their maul again powered over - with Moriarty, a name synonymous with St Helen's, the scorer.
Tuitavuki scored a consolation for the Dragons, before Wales call-up Aneurin Owen became the third Dragons player in the bin after a high tackle on Iestyn Hopkins.
