THE Dragons Under-18s enjoyed a 39-17 win against the Ospreys to keep the heat on the Scarlets in the WRU Regional Age Grade Championship.

Tries by wing Deon Smith, tighthead Taylor Hansen, hooker Zak Hewlett (2), centre Aneurin Owen, and wing Ewan Rosser earned a impressive bonus point victory at Bridgend’s Brewery Field.

It leaves the Gwent youngsters second in the table behind the Scarlets, who have won all five games so far.

The Dragons struck first against the Ospreys through the boot of fly-half Will Reed and his penalty was followed by a try by Smith for a 10-0 lead.

The Ospreys reduced the deficit with a penalty from Luke Scully and it was level-pegging at the break courtesy of a converted try by Iwan Shenton.

The Dragons regained their lead thanks to a driving maul that saw Hansen get on the scoresheet and he was soon followed over the line by fellow front rower Hewlett to make it 20-10.

The bonus point was secured when centre Owen went over after good work by the pack and it was 32-10 with five to play thanks to Hewlett’s second.

The Ospreys responded through Josh Thomas but the final say went to the Dragons when the ball was worked wide for Rosser to score a sixth try.

In the first block of the fixtures the Dragons edged out Blues North 25-24, lost at the Scarlets 38-19, thrashed RGC 1404 59-12 and beat the Blues South 36-5.

They host the Scarlets next Wednesday, entertain the Blues North on Tuesday, January 16, head north to face RGC on Sunday, January 21 and travel to Blues South at the end of the month.

Dragons U18s: Morgan Richards, Ewan Rosser, Duane Thomas, Aneurin Owen, Deon Smith, Will Reed, Dafydd Buckland, Nathan Evans, Zak Hewlett, Taylor Hansen, Ed Scragg, Ben Carter, Rob Brookson, Rhys Morgans, Jack Littlejohns (captain). Replacements: Brodie Coughlan, Tom Workman, Dylan Bartlett, Benji Hoppe, Oliver Howard, Garin Price, Iwan Burgwin, Luke Shore