NEWPORT Gwent Dragons were condemned to a first defeat at Rodney Parade since September when beaten 10-0 by the Ospreys. Here are five things learned from the Guinness PRO12 encounter…

1: Pitch imperfect

The Rodney Parade ground staff cannot be faulted for their work ethic and they will be back out with their forks this evening for Newport RFC’s Principality Premiership date with RGC 1404 but it will be a long four months.

Three teams on one surface is a logistical nightmare and the only solution is throwing an awful lot of money at it, money that simply isn’t there.

The state of the surface certainly isn’t pleasing on the eye and although it isn’t as problematic for rugby as it is for football, it does make life hard for the Dragons and their desire to play expansively.

It’s well documented that they don’t have the budget to bring in hefty forwards and they can struggle in terms of the power game, which becomes so important when conditions are heavy.

That being said, it’s a mental challenge as much as a physical one and coaches and players just have to get on with things until those in suits come up with a financial solution.

2: Derby despair

The Anglo-Welsh win against the Scarlets at least provided some joy against regional rivals but the Guinness PRO12 record is embarrassing.

The performance against a strong Ospreys side who will be in the title mix wasn’t hideous – the Dragons certainly lacked nothing in terms of tenacity – but they never looked like winning.

Their last success against a Welsh side in the league was on Boxing Day, 2014 and they will have to wait until taking on the Scarlets at Principality Stadium in April then Cardiff Blues in Newport on the final game of the season to try and end that streak.

A second successive derby whitewash has to be avoided to give long-suffering Dragons supporters some cheer.

3: Costly kicks

There’s little more deflating that a kick out on the full, perhaps only a penalty to touch going dead.

The Dragons hurt themselves in defeat to Cardiff Blues in the capital by overcooking kicks and repeated the error three times against the Ospreys.

Tavis Knoyle (twice) and Ashton Hewitt were the guilty men in momentum-gifting moments.

Both sides copped some flak for a kick-heavy approach but it was the accuracy that harmed the Dragons, who were up against two of the best in the league in Dan Biggar and Sam Davies.

4: Stubborn streak

The Dragons only really threatened the Ospreys line at the death and even then they couldn’t barge their way over, meaning that they failed to score at home for the first time since being beaten by Perpignan in 2008 and for the first time anywhere since the 2014 Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat at Newcastle.

However, they were resolute in defence and did marvellously to hold on when the Ospreys were enjoying territorial dominance in the second half.

The defensive lineout was superb and the tenacity, with flanker Ollie Griffiths to the fore, wonderful.

That stubbornness came close to earning the consolation of a bonus point.

5: Time for another run

The Dragons failed to make it six home wins on the spin but have a golden opportunity to get back on a Rodney Parade streak with Treviso then Enisei then Newcastle before the chance to upset Leinster during the Six Nations.

The Ospreys are a quality side and were guided home by Test match beasts in Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar, the sorts of figures who help prospects like official man of the match Olly Cracknell flourish, but Kingsley Jones’ side must not lose heart.

They may not have a title tilt or shot at Champions Cup qualification to keep things ticking along in the second half of the season but they do have the chance to finish above Edinburgh and Connacht.