NEWPORT Gwent Dragons went down to their third successive loss after a heavy defeat to the Ospreys in Swansea.

In a dull match they came second best despite a largely courageous display against a side almost certain of a home play-off match after a bonus point win.

It was billed as Shane Williams’ possible farewell match in front of his home fans despite the fact that he will probably be back again in three weeks' time for that play-off game.

The legendary wing didn’t disappoint the Ospreys faithful who had turned out in force to watch him in a season record of 14,478 fans at the Liberty Stadium.

There were more than shades of his last appearance for Wales against Australia in December as he scored a try with what was virtually the final move of the match after tearing through the Dragons’ defence.

The score had been only 17-12 to the hosts going into the last few minutes but a second penalty try and Williams fait accompli buried any prospect of a Dragons losing bonus point.

The Dragons were under intense pressure from the kick-off but some good fortune and last-ditch defence kept the Ospreys at bay.

Lock Ian Evans, blindside Ryan Jones and hooker Richard Hibbard all went close to scoring tries in the opening minutes.

But it was Dragons’ outside half Lewis Robling who put his side in front completely against the run of play with a superb penalty just inside his half after 10 minutes.

The home side were soon on the offensive again, however, and Robling’s counterpart Dan Biggar got them back on level terms with a simple penalty in front of the posts after 15 minutes.

The Dragons hit back moments later when the Opsreys were guilty of conceding a penalty for wheeling a scrum deep in their own half.

Robling’s sweetly struck penalty put the Dragons 6-3 up but their lead was short lived because, within seconds, the Ospreys scored a try through Ryan Jones, who crashed over from short range after centre Andrew Bishop was tackled just short of the line.

Biggar’s conversion from near the touchline gave them a four-point cushion.

The Dragons continued to make a game of it but wing Hanno Dirksen nearly put the Ospreys ahead after half an hour but for a great covering tackle by opposite number Aled Brew, which prevented him from scoring a try in the corner after scrum half Rhys Webb’s quick tap penalty near the halfway line.

A series of collapsed scrums on their own line saw Dragons tighthead Nathan Buck yellow carded by referee Nigel Owens with six minutes to go before the interval.

Dan Way came on for openside Lewis Evans but Owens gave the Ospreys a penalty try after more scrums hit the deck.

Biggar’s conversion put them 17-6 up at the break.

Another fine penalty by Robling just after half-time gave the Dragons hope.

The visitors were doing well to frustrate the Ospreys who, Williams and Dirksen aside, were lacking creativity out wide despite the platform given to them by their forwards.

The Ospereys were again penalised at the scrum in their own half and Robling’s fourth penalty out of four started to make the home fans a bit twitchy in the 56th minute.

But they had something to shout about when Williams was put in some space, only for his chip ahead to be well gathered by Dragons centre Adam Hughes just short of the line.

Some great defending saw the Dragons clear their line before they mounted an attack deep into Ospreys territory, only to be penalised for not releasing at the ruck.

They spurned another great opportunity when the ball was knocked forward at a lineout in a prime attacking position.

It was a stop-start second half of low quality and countless errors.

Replacement prop Way was the second Dragons tighthead to be sin-binned when he left the field after 70 minutes for another collapsed scrum.

Biggar missed the kickable penalty to further worry the home fans.

Hibbard looked to have crossed for the killer try with seven minutes to go but the hooker was penalised for a double movement.

The Ospreys, however, put the game beyond doubt with a minute to go when they were awarded their second penalty try, again converted by Biggar.

But there was still time for Williams to bring the house down with a try that he converted to heap further misery on the Dragons.

Ospreys: Ross Jones, Hanno Dirksen, Tom Isaacs, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Ryan Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Joe Bearman, Justin Tipuric.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Joe Rees, James King, Tom Smith, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matthew Morgan, Ashley Beck

Dragons: Hallam Amos; Tonderai Chavhanga, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith (capt), Aled Brew; Lewis Robling, Wayne Evans; Nathan Williams, Steve Jones, Nathan Buck, Robert Sidoli, Jevon Groves, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau, Lewis Evans.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Phil Price, Dan Way, Andrew Coombs, Tom Brown, Joe Bedford, Martyn Thomas, Pat Leach

Referee: Nigel Owens

Attendance: 14,478

Argus star man: Lewis Robling