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Rugby Union

Ospreys emerge triumphant against below-par Dragons

25/04/2008

Ospreys defeated rivals Newport Gwent-Dragons 16-3 in the Magners League at the Liberty Stadium.

The home side were guided to victory by a try from Aled Jones, with James Hook booting over two penalties and a conversion and Justin Marshall kicking a drop goal.

Newport, who had Richard Parks and Luke Charteris booked, scored a first-half penalty through Jason Tovey.

Ospreys were without the star trio of Gavin Henson, Mike Phillips, and Nikki Walker.

Henson was given another week to recover from the ligament damage to his left ankle suffered against Saracens earlier this month.

Phillips has had surgery on his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, while Walker will return next season after stress fracture of the fibia in the right leg.

Dragons head coach Paul Turner made four changes with Kevin Morgan playing at full back for the injured Martyn Thomas, and Ben Daly starting at hooker with Steve Jones being demoted to the bench.

Adam Jones missed out due to illness and was replaced by Andrew Hall, while the hosts were boosted by the return of Richard Parks with Michael Owen dropping to the bench.

The win for Ospreys keeps them in seventh spot, ten points clear of the Dragons who stay in eighth place.