Two intense Welsh derbies in 2025 paid off in a big way as the Ospreys were held to a draw at third-placed Cardiff despite playing more than half the game on a red card.
The Scarlets have started the new year in style as Blair Murray takes on the task of steering Dwayne Peel’s side into a play-off place.
Here are reports on both contests:
Cardiff 13 – 13 Ospreys
The Ospreys overcame lock James Fender’s first-half red card to crocodile roll to secure a 13-13 draw against Cardiff in front of a sell-out crowd at Cardiff Arms Park.
Despite receiving a red card in the 38th minute, the visitors were the better team throughout the game as Cardiff had to survive sustained late pressure to take two points and maintain third place in the United Rugby Championship.
Young flyhalf Dan Edwards scored all of the points for the Ospreys with a stunning try, two penalties and a conversion, while James Botham and Dafydd Hughes scored Cardiff’s tries which went unconverted, along with a Ben Thomas penalty.
Cardiff flew out of the trap to dominate the opening exchanges, turned away three kickable penalties, instead opting for a lineout from short range and were rewarded with Botham’s try behind a maul.
The Ospreys’ penalty count was five in the opening 10 minutes but they came to life when scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams split the Cardiff defense at a midfield scrum.
Edwards continued the move, but No. 8 Morgan Morris uncharacteristically lost possession on the landing.
But they looked to have scored when center Keiran Williams broke through the defense to get past Morgan-Williams, but had to settle for three points after TMO replays ruled the build-up had been halted.
Just before the break, the Ospreys were dealt a hammer blow when Fender was sent off for a nasty alligator roll on Dan Thomas. This was an expected result of the recent crackdown on trucking technology.
second half
With Cardiff leading 5-3 at half-time, the first actual play after the restart saw repeated team infringements, with second-row Teddy Williams receiving a yellow card.
The Ospreys took advantage of the level numbers when Edwards danced through the defense for a superb individual try, but the hosts were able to reply minutes later when Hughes scored his second try behind a maul.
Williams returned in the sin bin but was soon replaced by Rhys Litterick for persistent scrum infringements, an area the Ospreys had dominated all afternoon, with Edwards kicking the resulting penalty.
However, Thomas responded immediately for Cardiff to level the scores.
The final quarter saw the Ospreys ramp up the pressure despite being short of men and come within inches of pulling off several unexpected wins.
However, that was not to be as Cardiff’s defense held firm and the two teams shared the spoils in the first match of the New Year.
Scarlet 32 ​​– 25 Dragon
The Scarlets’ dominant first-half display ensured a comfortable 32-15 home win over the Dragons as Dwayne Peel’s side returned to a URC play-off place.
The hosts got over the line four times with help from Blair Murray (twice), Josh Macleod and Ellis Mee, while Sam Costelow and Ioan Lloyd both kicked 12 points.
The Scarlets’ first try was a contender for try of the season.
After the Dragons lost possession, the Scarlets spread it wide until Taine Plumtree released Welsh winger Tom Rogers with a superb offload from the touchline.
The 26-year-old broke a couple of tackles and another superb offload caught the hand of Jonny Williams and Gareth Davis before putting Blair Murray in space under the posts for Sam Costello to convert.
The Scarlets’ next points came when The Dragons failed to handle the restart following a Sam Costelow penalty.
Neat handling from Williams and Sam Lousi found Josh Macleod, who threw a wonderful looping pass to find Murray on the wing as he danced past the last defender of the second half.
Peel’s side were in complete control and soon claimed their third try when Macleod powered from short range behind a maul, before Costelow added a further strike to give the hosts a 24-3 lead at the break.
second half
The Scarlets got off to a strong start to the second half when Gareth Davies ripped the ball out of possession from a Dragons player shortly after kick-off.
The ball eventually found Williams, who almost killed the overlap but offloaded to find Ellis Mee, who scored a touchdown.
Despite a 26-point deficit, the Dragons refused to throw in the towel and tried again when Taine Basham leapt over the line from close range.
They applied more pressure in the closing stages when replacement scrumhalf Che Hope cleared before setting up Huw Anderson for the second try.
But the hosts put the result beyond doubt minutes later when Ioan Lloyd kicked a penalty to secure a hard-fought win for the Scarlets.
