Newport Gwent Dragons weren't able to end 2006 as they started with a win over the Ospreys but in a dogged display they left the Liberty Stadium with a point.
The Dragons forwards dominated most of the match which saw the first forty minutes played in dreadful conditions with driving rain and a swirling wind.
James Hook got the home side on the score sheet first with a penalty before Ceri Sweeney levelled the scores. Hook then put the home side back in the lead 6-3 after Adam Black was penalised for taking out Jason Spice to give the Ospreys the lead at half time.
Colin Charvis came on at the start of the second half for Jamie Ringer who was suffering from a flu bug but The Dragons were reduced to 14 men when Lee Harrison a replacement for Jamie Corsi (knee) was sent to the sin bin for off side at the ruck. Hook converted the ensuing penalty. Despite being a man down Sweeney closed the gap after the Ospreys were penalised for hands in the ruck. The scrums briefly went uncontested with Harrison off the field and no prop on the replacements bench with Nic Fitisemanu coming up into the front row.
Dragons captain Kevin Morgan nearly got on the score sheet when he almost gathered Sweeney's cross field kick but was marginally beaten by Gavin Henson.
Despite all the pressure coming from The Dragons pack it was Henson who fired over a monster kick after the referee penalised Ian Gough.
Ryan Jones was back to his best of two seasons ago and was awarded the man of the match.
With horrific weather conditions dictating how the match would be played it was always going to be a battle between the packs and despite The Dragons winning the forward exchanges they were unable to get the win. The rain was like a monsoon for the first forty minutes which made the ball like a ball of soap and the tactical kicking of the Ospreys ensured they ended 2006 with the spoils thanks in no small part to the monstrous boot of Gavin Henson.
Ian Gough battled heroically throughout the game despite receiving lengthy treatment for an injured shoulder early in the first half.
James Hook set the game alight after the first quarter when he made a dazzling break and Richard Mustoe came off his wing to carry on the attack. Hook probed the ball through the defence but it went dead before Lee Byrne could pounce. However, two minutes later the Ospreys took the lead through a penalty.
Sweeney levelled the scoring after the Ospreys were penalised for coming in at the side and Sweeney's successful kick brought his points tally up to 300 in the league.
The Ospreys ended the half in the lead after Adam Black was penalised.
With Hook and Sweeney exchanging penalties in the second half it was left to the boot of Henson from 50m out to land a penalty which gave the Ospreys the four points.
The Dragons could have snatched a late win following a tremendous break by centre Paul Emerick but with no support on hand the chance went begging.
