DRAGONS MISS OUT AT SHANE'SLAST STAND
By Joe Crocker
Nearly 15,000 fans turned up for Shane Williams' last league game at the Liberty and the Dragons nearly stole the show.
Although being under intense pressure throughout the game the Dragons continued to frustrate the Ospreys thwarting nearly every attack and were still in the game right upto the last minute.
The Ospreys started the game full of attacking intent, showing that they wanted the bonus point win to take them to the play-offs in style. For the first 10 minutes the Dragons were left 'camped' in their own 22 by attack after attack but it was Lewis Robling who scored the first points of the game with a long range penalty.
Dan Bigger replied soon after with penalty of his own but Robling put the Dragons back in front again before Welsh international Ryan Jones scrambled over the line to score after a quick penalty.
The Dragons fought hard to get back into the game with some good phase play but the half was being dominated by the Ospreys quick ball and then when Dragons prop Nathan Buck was yellow carded for one of many scrum infringements, referee, Nigel Owen ran underneath the posts and awarded the Ospreys a Penalty Try to make the half time score 17-6.
The Dragons came out the better side and following a powerful run by Toby Faletau reduced the deficit when Robling scored his 3rd penalty followed shortly by his 4th penalty and the Dragons were back in bonus point territory be it only a losing bonus point.
A yellow card for Dan Way made the last 10 minutes nearly 'mission impossible' for the Dragons and in the last minute Nigel Owens gave the Ospreys another Penalty Try from another scrum and any chance of a point was lost.
A quick drop-conversion by Biggar offered the Ospreys a chance to try and get that valuable try bonus point and it was a typical Shane Williams bit of magic that had all the crowd on their feet applauding when he slipped through the Dragons defence to score deep into added time, he converted his own try to make the final score 31-12 to the Ospreys.
