NEWPORT Gwent Dragons will head into their key Guinness Pro12 clash with Munster with a spring in their step after ending a four-year wait for a derby away win in remarkable style.

The Dragons beat the Ospreys 51-35 in frankly bonkers LV= Cup clash in Bridgend, taking the spoils against a regional rival away from Rodney Parade for the first time since October 2010.

Three disappointing defeats on the spin since their stunning win against Stade Francais in Paris meant that director of rugby Lyn Jones plumped for a strong side in the development competition.

He was demanding a victory but even he must have been surprised by the scale of the success against his former employers, whose late flurry made the scoreboard look flattering.

The Dragons led 41-0 at half-time after crossing for five tries and it looked like they could eclipse their 66-10 demolition of Bucharest in 2006.

Instead they had to settle for passing the half-century for the first time against a regional rivals while a farcical game saw the Ospreys emerge with their own bonus point thanks to five tries after the benches had been emptied.

It was a win earned by the Dragons’ grunt up front with the forwards doing a good impression of the famous Pontypool pack of the 1970s, although it’s unlikely Max Boyce is penning his tribute song just yet.

Jones selected experience in his tight five in a bid to return to winning ways with seasoned props Boris Stankovich and Brok Harris either side of first-choice hooker Elliot Dee while captain Rynard Landman partnered Cory Hill in the second row.

It was a decision that paid off with the Ospreys, who were young up front and strong in the backs, unable to cope with their power.

The Dragons made a dream start and were 24-0 up after 13 minutes thanks to an early Geraint Rhys Jones penalty and three converted tries.

First centre Ross Wardle finished off a terrific team try after wing Ashton Hewitt’s break from halfway and flanker James Benjamin’s good support.

And then the Dragons scored two tries from driving lineouts with Lewis Evans the man to cross on both occasions, the first from 15 metres and the second, staggeringly, from 35 metres.

The region have improved dramatically at the maul this season and reaped the rewards of their hard graft on the training paddock.

And it earned the bonus point after just 31 minutes when, seconds after home lock Rory Thornton was sin-binned for dragging down a drive, it was lock Cory Hill’s turn to power over the line.

Try number five came with the final play of the half when impressive lock Landman exploited some lamentable defence to charge into the 22 and offload for scrum-half Jonathan Evans to jog over.

Jones converted and the game was done and dusted at half-time with the visitors leading 41-0.

The Dragons started the second half in the same fashion, Hill finishing off after a break into the 22 by fly-half Dorian Jones and wing Tyler Morgan, but this time the Ospreys responded.

First centre Hanno Dirksen cut a nice line to go under the sticks and then wing Dafydd Howells burrowed over from close range with Sam Davies adding a pair of conversions to make it 48-14.

The hosts were eyeing a bonus point when replacement prop Cai Griffiths peeled off their own driving lineout approaching the hour.

Jones booted the visitors past 50 points with a third penalty but the Ospreys got their own bonus point through a penalty try with 10 minutes left after a driving maul was illegally stopped by Dorian Jones, who joined Joe Davies in the sin bin.

It was ridiculous stuff and wing Aisea Natoga went through some non-existent defence for try number five in the 75th minute, Davies’ conversion cutting the Dragons’ lead to 51-35.

But, as the rain pelted down, there was never any danger of the most remarkable of comeback wins.

Ospreys: R Fussell, D Howells, H Dirksen, A Beck (A Evans 65), A Natoga, S Davies, M Roberts (captain, T Habberfield 60), M Thomas (G Thomas 48), S Parry, D Suter (C Griffiths 40), R Thornton (A Beard 64), R Bernardo, I Boladau, R Dudley-Jones (T Spinks 51), I Jones.

Scorers: tries – H Dirksen, D Howells, C Griffiths, penalty, A Natoga; conversions – S Davies (5)

Dragons: G R Jones, T Morgan, R Wardle, A Smith (M Pewtner 63), A Hewitt (J Tovey 66), D Jones, J Evans (L Jones 63), B Stankovich (P Price 13), E Dee (H Gustafson 63), B Harris (D Young 36-40, 57), C Hill, R Landman (captain, J Davies 54), J Thomas, J Benjamin, L Evans (O Griffiths 63).

Scorers: tries – R Wardle, L Evans (2), C Hill (2), J Evans; conversions – G R Jones (6); penalties – G R Jones (3)

Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU)

Attendance: 2,736

Argus star man: Rynard Landman