The Dragons under 16s gave up a 10-0 interval advantage at Llandarcy and eventually went down 21-17 to the Ospreys in the opening WRU Regional Championship game last night.
Meanwhile at Merthyr, Blues North ran out 34-19 winners against the Scarlets.
Owain Rees, Elliott Parker, Darren Harris, Jack Dando, captain Callum Thomas and Shaun Webber crossed for the Blues’ tries with outside half Lewis Williams twice converting.
Gethin Hunter and Curtis Morris scored the Scarlets’ tries with Luke Treharne weighing in with nine points from a brace of conversions and a penalty.
At Llandarcy, where the Dragons have never won, it was the visitors who struck first -Bradley Hill crossing for a first half try and Thomas Haynes adding a conversion and penalty.
Hill bagged a second try late in the game – Michael Davies converting – but by that time, the Ospreys had scored three of their own through Alex Evans, flanker Will Thomas and Nathan Brooks. Tom Carpenter made sure of victory with three conversions, but it was hard luck on the Dragons who performed with aplomb throughout an outstanding game.
Team manager Wayne Pugh said; "I think we showed everyone what we are capable of in the first half. All credit to the Ospreys, they battled back and in the end, they did enough to win the game."
