In what is shaping up to be a difficult month for Welsh rugby, the four regions continued their national team’s run of defeats this weekend in the United Rugby Championship’s ‘Origin Round.’

Origin Round is where all URC teams and supporters come together to champion the clubs and volunteers that gave all of the players, staff and supporters their first steps into the world of rugby. Symbolically, each Welsh player over the weekend wore the socks of their first club.

Ospreys Go Close Against Unbeaten Leinster

Mark Jones’ revival of Ospreys continued on Friday, as his side almost edged out unbeaten Leinster in a tight match at the Swansea.com stadium.

Trailing 7-15 at halftime, the home side reduced the deficit to just a single point seven minutes into the second period when Ethan Lewis dotted down.

French international Rabah Slimani brought the gap back up to eight points for Leinster, which proved too much for the Welsh hosts, despite Cameron Jones’ late score setting up a tense finish.

It is a mark of Mark Jones’s excellent start as Ospreys boss that Friday’s result was his first defeat since taking charge in December. This defeat leaves Ospreys still in 13th in the table, but just four points away from Scarlets, who occupy the last play-off spot.

Scarlets Struggle in Limerick

Irish number eight Gavin Coombes’ brace of tries inspired Munster to a 29-8 victory over Scarlets on Saturday afternoon.

A tight first half gave away to a Munster procession, as the home side scored three tries in 17 second half minutes.

Scarlets responded with a try of their own, a wonderful individual score by substitute Macs Page, but it was too little, too late.

Despite defeat, Scarlets remain in the play-off places, but will be looking over their shoulder at the six teams below them, all with aspirations on qualification.

Cardiff Comeback Not Enough

Cardiff came back from 19-0 down to level the scores in Galway, but had their hearts broken with five minutes to go, losing 24-19 to Connacht.

The visitors only scored their first points in the 52nd minute, when the ever-excellent Rey Lee-Lo crashing over from short range.

Cardiff found their confidence and two more tries followed through substitutes Ben Donnell and Calum Braley.

Just as the Welsh side went looking for a winner, Connacht regained their composure, and replacement hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin rescued his side with a maul try.

With a bonus point taken in defeat, Cardiff remain in the play-off positions, although they were leapfrogged by Munster and the Sharks, finding themselves in sixth.

Dragons Soundly Beaten By Champions

Despite leading 10-0 after the first ten minutes, Dragons lost 20-45 to reigning URC champions Glasgow Warriors, who ran in seven tries.

Hooker James Benjamin scored on his 100th appearance for the Welsh region, but Glasgow responded well, securing the bonus point before halftime.

Zebre’s away win at Edinburgh leaves Dragons well adrift at the bottom of the table, still searching for a first league win since their opening day defeat of Ospreys.

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