Mixed fortunes for Welsh sides as PRO12 gets started

Reigning PRO12 champions the Ospreys were beaten in their first game of this season's competition by Treviso on Friday night. It was a better start for the Dragons, who sit at the top of the table after seeing off their Italian opposition - Zebre - and picking up a bonus point.

Dan Biggar got all of the Ospreys' points - two penalties - in a 12-6 defeat. The Welsh side were hamstrung by the dismissal of Ian Evans for two yellow cards, with three-quarters of the game still to play. He was sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball on the floor, then sent off for a high tackle when he'd only been back on the field a couple of minutes. A losing bonus point was their only reward for dominating the second half, with Ashley Beck coming closest to the try line.

The Dragons roared out of the blocks to start their PRO12 campaign at Rodney Parade. They had scored four tries and secured a bonus point by half-time. Young full-back Dan Evans scored two, while centre Andy Tuilagi and wing Will Harries also crossed the line. Tom Prydie kicked four conversions and two penalties in all, and Steffan Jones slotted a drop-goal in a 37-6 victory. The Dragons' performance tailed off after the break, but the job was already done.