Before we get into the Sportin Wales weekend rugby recap, we would like to extend our sympathies to the family of the supporter who tragically died after suffering a medical emergency at Rodney Parade before Dragons vs Sharks.

In a weekend where all four regions lost, some in agonizing fashion, others in try-fests, it is a reminder to us all to look after ourselves and others.

Now, on with the rugby.

Dragons Downed At The Last By Sharks

Billed as the URC’s battle of the big beasts, this match, lived up to its billing for much of the contest, only decided by an 85th-minute try from replacement Sharks hooker Fez Mbatha.

Dragons started really well, with tries from Taine Basham, Chris Coleman, and Rhodri Williams opening up a 22-5 lead.

The Sharks roared back but the Dragons looked to have won the game through captain Ben Carter’s try and Will Reed’s penalty, opening up a four-point lead.

Despite their excellent defensive efforts, Dragons could not stop Mbatha from winning the game. Their only consolation is a spirited performance and two bonus points.

13-try Rollercoaster Goes Against Cardiff

If Dragons thought that they were in a ding-dong battle, it was nothing compared to what Cardiff and Glasgow Warriors served up at the Arms Park on Friday night.

While Cardiff scored five excellent tries of their own – the pick coming from Wales international Mackenzie Martin – Glasgow were immaculate in attack, Sione Tuipulotu in particular, putting on a clinic in midfield play.

Glasgow opened up a 12-33 lead soon after halftime, but Cardiff come back with three tries, including Martin’s, to trail by four at 36-40. Unfortunately for the Blue and Blacks, Glasgow showed why they were champions last season, putting the game to bed through Matt Fagerson and Tom Jordan.

While this result will have put a dent in Cardiff’s early season form, such a display for attacking rugby was strangely missing from their opening two fixtures which will have concerned some fans.

They needn’t have worried on Friday, even if the result did not go their way.

Scarlets Agonizingly Close To First Win of the Season

Scarlets were on the wrong end of their own late defeat on Friday evening, as a late Cathal Forde penalty clinched the four points for Connacht.

The Irish side, who have now won their last eleven URC matches against Welsh opponents, looked to be heading for defeat when Sam Costelow nailed a 73-minute penalty, five minutes before Forde’s eventual winner.

The game started in fast fashion, with five tries in the first half, both of Scarlets coming from scrumhalf Gareth Davies.

After the break, dual Welsh international playmakers Costelow and Ioan Lloyd controlled things expertly, not giving the dangerous Connacht backline anything to work with.

They were solid from the tie too, exchanging kicking duties to great effect. Unfortunately, despite opening up that slender lead, it was not quite enough for a first win.

Munster Put Zebre Demons To Bed In Controlled Win

Ospreys battled the elements and a hurting Munster side after their first ever defeat to Zebre last weekend.

Buoyed from their excellent win over the Stormers, Ospreys had to play into the wind in the first period, struggling to exit their own half for much of the first 40.

It did not help that Munster scored after just 11 seconds, through Shay McCarthy who capitalised on Owen Watkin’s error from the kick-off.

A 17-0 deficit at halftime did not look terrible for the men in black, however, with the knowledge that the wind would be in their favour in the second half.

Ospreys, though, were error-strewn in their eagerness to put points on the board, often handing possession over soon after entering the Munster 22.

Munster added salt to the Ospreys’ wound through Jack O’Donoghue’s bonus point try on 64 minutes, meaning the visitors departed Cork without a point on the scoreboard.

Wales Women Held Up In Attempt To Arrest The Slide

Italy consigned Wales to a seventh defeat of the year in a low-scoring contest in South Africa.

Elisa Giordano and Hannah Bluck traded first half tries before Beatrice Rigoni kicked the winning penalty early in the second half.

With the clock in the red, Wales risked the loss to chase the win, choosing to go for a 5m scrum rather than a shot at the posts.

A lack of composure cost the Wales side, as scrumhalf and captain Keira Bevan was held up over the line, giving the Italians the victory.

Results

Friday

Wales 5-8 Italy

Cardiff Rugby 36-52 Glasgow Warriors

Scarlets 23-24 Connacht

Saturday

Dragons 30-33 Sharks

Munster 23-0 Ospreys

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