Six-try Dragons shine at St Helens

Wing Harry Rees-Weldon grabbed a try brace for the second consecutive weekend as Dragons A impressed with a 38-17 victory over Ospreys Development at St Helen’s Sportsground in Swansea.

Dragons Academy prospect Rees-Weldon and centre Harry Wilson scored first half tries as Dragons – on the back of an emphatic win over Scarlets last weekend - took a 12-5 lead to the interval.

And after the break they turned on the style in difficult wet conditions with Rees-Weldon grabbing a second before Oli Burrows, Lloyd Lewis and Joel Mahoney also dotted down to wrap up victory.

Dragons made eight changes for the clash after the comprehensive victory over Scarlets with Wilson, Jordan Williams, Che Hope and Rees-Weldon moving into the back division. Burrows, Nathan Evans, Barny Langton-Cryer and Kobi Rees were called into the pack. A late change saw Nick Thomas replace Owen Conquer in a reshuffled back row.

In swirling wet conditions on the coast, a surging break from David Richards in the opening exchanges saw the centre race 40 metres before the retreating Ospreys – who themselves lost both centres inside five minutes – regrouped.

Ospreys turned to their power game early on with a driving lineout smashed over with home hooker Cameron Lewis dotting down for the lead.

A scrum penalty soon afterwards saw Ben Burnell kick deep into visiting territory, but this time the Dragons maul defence held firm to win the turnover as the early rain finally abated.

Che Hope looked to break but his offload to Wilson just failed to find hands as the Australian looked set to race into open field.

A big scrum penalty then saw Will Reed kick to the corner and Burrows look to get the shove over, but he was adjudged held up by the official.

Dragons finally put a sustained spell of pressure together on the home line, after an initial burst from Evan Minto, and it was Wilson who scored as he hit a great line from deep to level the score.

Then a slick training ground move just before the break saw a lineout move confidently finished by Rees-Weldon after a sublime pop pass back inside from Hope.

The rain returned for the start of the second half, but the attacking rugby continued as Richards produced another sensational break and smart grubber kick into space for Rees-Weldon to grab his second.

The visitors grabbed a fourth when another slick lineout move saw Minto out Burrows over in the corner. Reed converted with his final act as Dragons opened a 26-5 lead up.

Lloyd Lewis tore down the right wing, but his final pass just failed to find hands as the visitors looked to pull further ahead.

But the jet-heeled wide man did score just moments later with a superb acrobatic effort to take a clever kick in behind from Morgan Lloyd.

Luke Scully grabbed a try for the hosts but back came Dragons with Joel Mahoney scoring after a neat no look pass from Lloyd. Ospreys struck late on to reduce the deficit.

Timeline:

12m Lewis t 5-0

36m Wilson t 5-5

40m Rees-Weldon t Reed c 5-12

44m Rees-Weldon t Reed c 5-19

53m Burrows t Reed c 5-26

59m Lewis t 5-31

64m Scully t Burnell c 12-31

69m Mahoney t Ford c 12-38

75m Home t 17-38

Ospreys Development: Iestyn Hopkins, Harri Houston, Connor Moyse, Tom Florence, Luke Morgan, Luke Scully, Scott Whitlock; Steffan Thomas, Cameron Lewis, Math Iowerth-Scott, Liam Edwards, James Fender, Will Greatbanks, Dan Gemine, Will Griffiths

Replacements: Cam Jones, Llew Taylor, Rhys Henry, Evan Hill, Lewis Jones, Rhys Thomas, Kyle Harris, Ben Burnell, Ieuan Cornelius, Ryan Wilkins, Cori Lewis-Jenkins

Dragons A: Jordan Williams (Anderson 53); Lloyd Lewis (Price 60), Harry Wilson (Mahoney 45), David Richards, Harry Rees-Weldon; Will Reed (Ford 53), Che Hope (Lloyd 53-73); Josh Reynolds (Tuckley 64), Oli Burrows (Scarfe 53), Nathan Evans, Joe Davies (Peard 60), Barny Langton-Cryer, Nick Thomas (Davies 76), Kobi Rees (Jones 53), Evan Minto

Replacements: Sam Scarfe, George Tuckley, Owain James, Ryan Jones, Morgan Lloyd, Harri Ford, Joel Mahoney, Walker Price, Huw Anderson