It was a winless weekend for the Welsh regions in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend, as Cardiff fought hard for a two-point loss.

Elsewhere, Dragons were left heartbroken at the final whistle as they had to settle for a 17-17 draw with Sharks, while Ospreys ran out of energy against the Stormers after an excellent first half.

There was also a postponement of the Connacht vs Scarlets match, as Storm Amy caused travel chaos across the weekend. The situation has raised valid questions about the feasibility of a league that requires plane travel to most away games.

Let’s get into the rugby!

Dragons winless run continues after agonising draw

Despite ending their 18-game losing run in the URC this weekend, Dragons fans were frustrated that the run turned into a 19-game winless streak, rather than a narrow, cathartic victory.

At 17-17 and bearing down on the Sharks’ try line, the home side turned down at least two opportunities to drop goal, instead going for the try to win it, only to knock-on with the clock deep in the red.

Dragons showed admirable tenacity to stay alive against a powerful Sharks side in the rain but did not get what would have been a statement win for a new-look squad.

It was a mark of the lack of winning experience in the team that they failed to keep their heads and secure a first win since the very start of last season.

There were positives to take from the match, with Tongan duo Fine Inisi and Fetuli Paea impressing on their home debuts, and the athletic back row of Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Aaron Wainwright performing admirably in difficult conditions.

With a trip to Glasgow and then a pair of home Welsh derbies coming up to end this first block, Dragons need a win in this first block to break the losing spell that has fallen over Rodney Parade.

Bowen hattrick delivers two-point defeat for Cardiff

It was a game in which the good (and bad) of Callum Sheedy reared its head. The international flyhalf was phenomenal with ball in hand – and boot – to set up Tom Bowen’s fabulous hattrick and Josh Adams’ opener, but his kicking from the tee arguably cost his side a rare bonus-point away win.

Sheedy can point to the dreadful weather conditions as an excuse for his poor day with the boot, but with Ioan Lloyd – an excellent place-kicker – waiting in the wings, there may be some change at the Arms Park in future weeks.

All this should not distract from the fact that Cardiff have had an excellent start to the season. A five-point win over the Lions last week got things going, and taking two-points from Limerick is nothing to be sniffed at.

Cardiff have given themselves a platform to make it an excellent first block with a home game against Connacht, a trip to a Dragons side desperate to end their Blue and Black hoodoo, and an Arms Park date with Edinburgh.

Ospreys return home from Cape Town empty handed

Ospreys suffered a second successive defeat out in South Africa, this time coming away empty handed after a spirited effort was not enough against the Stormers.

Two tries from Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy had given Mark Jones’ side a 10-8 half-time lead and raised hopes of a third successive win against this particular South African opposition.

Stormers battled back with tries from number eight Evan Ross, full-back Wandisile Simelane and replacement Paul de Villiers, while fly-half Jurie Matthee kicked 11 points.

Stormers were coming into this one off the back of an eye-catching 35-0 victory over reigning champions Leinster the week before, but the Ospreys were excellent again in attack.

Similar to Cardiff, they too have kind fixtures to end the first block – Zebre and Glasgow at home, and Dragons away – but will need to win at least two of those if they are to stay in the play-off hunt, even at this early stage.

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