Academy Coach Ceri Jones heaped praise on the Dragons A performance over Ospreys Development – pinpointing the value for the younger members of the development side.
The next generation of talent were on show at St Helen’s Sportsground in Swansea as Dragons secured a 38-17 victory in difficult conditions.
Jones was pleased with the manner with which a young pack withstood an early examination from Ospreys Development before putting their own mark on the game.
“It was a really good performance. I felt the boys really stood up well against a good Ospreys team,” he said.
“To come away with a victory down here is super for the group. It’s a performance everyone in the region can be proud of.
“It was always going to be a real arm wrestle; we knew that with the way the Ospreys play. You have to front up, have control at set piece, and we did that really well to keep ourselves in the fight.
“They came with the maul early on, but we responded well to that and kept them out and took our opportunities when we had them.”
Looking back at the two weeks of A team action, Jones hopes the benefits will be clear to see for the upcoming talent at the Dragons.
He said: “It was a huge development piece for the group. Yes, there were senior boys getting an opportunity and some guys from Super Rygbi Cymru, and we thank them for everything they have done.
“But ultimately it is for players like Barny (Langton-Cryer), Nick Thomas, (Sam) Scarfe. They really showed up and stood up to an experienced Ospreys pack.
“Some of the intellect around some of the plays and tries, which everyone will see, I hope they enjoy them because we did as coaches.
“I look at these games from the perspective of getting Dragons’ boys all playing in a Dragons shirt,” he added.
“A lot of them got to play together at Rodney Parade last week and they wouldn’t have done that since age grade, some wouldn’t have played there at all because we play a lot at Ystrad Mynach.
“For them to come together and gel so well, to gel with that senior group, is outstanding. Hopefully it will now stand us in good stead going forward.”
It was always going to be a real arm wrestle; we knew that with the way the Ospreys play. You have to front up, have control at set piece, and we did that really well to keep ourselves in the fight...
