NEWPORT Gwent Dragons ended their six-match losing run with a thrilling Magners League derby victory over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade last night.

Not only did the Dragons gain a deserved win, they obtained an unexpected bonus point to jump over Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets in the table.

It was no more than the Dragons deserved after so many close calls and the best crowd of the season gave the team a rapturous reception at the whistle.

Apart from an early penalty the Dragons were never headed as they took charge of the game for long periods, acting captain Luke Charteris, Joe Bearman and Hoani MacDonald again outstanding in a tremendous forward effort and the backs this time played their part as well.

Gavin Henson was impressive for the Ospreys with two tries, but Mike Phillips was well looked after when he went on in the second half and couldn’t prevent the Dragons from gaining their best win of the season.

The Dragons got off on the wrong foot, Joe Bearman dropping the kick off and Rhodri Davies missing a tackle on Gavin Henson before offside in front of their own posts gifted Dan Biggar three points in only the second minute.

The Dragons were playing into the teeth of the wind, driving rain making conditions worse, but they stormed to the Ospreys 22 where Luke Charteris won a line-out and Charvis, Rhys Thomas and Charteris himself all lunged for the line only to be held up.

Twice the Dragons opted to kick penalties to touch rather than risk a shot at goal in the bad weather and it paid dividends the second time when Hoani MacDonald won a line-out and directed the ball down to Steve Jones who put scrum half Rob Lewis over for a try which Shaun Connor failed to convert.

But the lead was short-lived for the next time the Ospreys got into the Dragons half Biggar fired over a straight penalty to regain the lead.

Again the Dragons wrestled the lead back with their second try. Charteris won a line-out and again drove hard for the line, then Rhys Thomas took over and charged for the line where he was awarded the try by the Television Match Official when it looked as though he had dropped the ball going over. Connor converted in the tricky conditions and the Dragons were six points ahead.

The Dragons were making most of the running and Bearman made one of his trademark runs before Lewis was laid out, but he picked himself up in time to see Connor put over a penalty to further stretch the lead.

Henson received the bird when he sent a long kick sailing over the deadball line, play returning 60 yards back upfield, but he got his own back when he romped across for the Ospreys’ first try.

Scrum half Rhodri Wells dodged through down the right, Jonathan Thomas carried on then wing Tommy Bowe swept away on a glancing run through midfield before putting Henson over for a try to a round of booing from the home fans. And a soaring Biggar penalty with almost the last kick of the half narrowed the gap to a point at 15-14.

Facing a big 40 minutes, the Dragons got the second half off on just the right note when Connor landed a penalty almost from the kick off, awarded for offside.

The Dragons then launched a thrilling attack, started by Lewis to make up for an earlier mistake, but Gareth Wyatt failed to pin his ears back and go for the line and the Ospreys got back to cover.

That was the signal for the Ospreys to send on the cavalry, Filo Tiatia going on, soon followed by Wales scrum half Mike Phillips for his first appearance for eight months.

But it was the Dragons who struck when Bearman broke from a scrum, an Ospreys hand knocked the ball down and MacDonald picked it up, then sent out a long pass to Wyatt who dashed over for the try in his 100th league appearance.

But the elation was short-lived as Sonny Parker fended off several halfhearted tackles to send Henson racing in for his second try which Biggar converted to narrow the gap to 23-21.

Biggar missed a kickable penalty for the Ospreys who were gaining the upper hand going into the final quarter, but the Dragons made sure of victory with five minutes left after a wonderful piece of skill by Colin Charvis.

The evergreen flanker put in a superbly judged kick out to the left where Jason Tovey was waiting and he caught the ball on the full before speeding across in the corner for the bonus point try which Connor converted in style.

Biggar replied with a penalty for the Ospreys, but it was too late and the Dragons had sealed a glorious victory.

Newport Gwent Dragons: J Tovey, G Wyatt, R Sidey (A Smith 69), R Davies, R Fussell, S Connor (P Dollman 76), R Lewis (T Isaacs 63), A Black, S Jones (T Willis 55), R Thomas, A Jones (L Evans 63), L Charteris (captain), H MacDonald, J Bearman (D Lydiate 76), C Charvis.

Scorers -- tries: R Lewis, R Thomas, G Wyatt, J Tovey; conversions: S Connor (2); penalties: Connor (2) .

Ospreys: G Henson, T Bowe, S Parker, A Bishop (A Beck 71), J Vaughton, D Biggar, R Wells (M Phillips 51), P James, E Shervington, C Griffiths (A Jones 63), I Gough, J Thomas, T Smith (F Tiatia 47), R Jones (captain), M Holah.

Scorers -- tries: G Henson (2); conversion: D Biggar ; penalties: Biggar (4).

Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland).

Attendance: 7,138.