Charvis proved he is not finished with a man-of-the-match show

The Dragons secured their place in next season's Heineken Cup after claiming their first league win since 4 January.

Kevin Morgan opened the scoring against an unfamiliar Ospreys, who were missing 17 players to injury and Wales duty.

A thrilling Gareth Owen run helped get the visitors back into the game before the break, the young full-back setting up Shaun Connor for a converted try.

Colin Charvis, the subject of Wales tour and retirement talk, sealed the win with a second-half score.

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That left the Dragons needing just a point to guarantee finishing above Connacht and claiming the prized spot, and a loose pass from Ceri Sweeney set them on their way after just five minutes.

Owen's thrilling run helped haul the Ospreys back into contention

The bounce stalled the Ospreys defence as the ball fell to Morgan, the full-back showing the pace to take full advantage.

Sweeney and Connor - the Ospreys fly-half who will join the Dragons next season - exchanged penalties, but it was the home side who held the whip hand over the new-look Ospreys.

Centre Jonathan Spratt felt the pressure building and was sin-binned for killing the ball, Steve Tandy getting a stern talking to moments later before Sweeney landed a second Dragons penalty.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb, making his full Ospreys debut, was sin-binned for a high tackle on Richard Fussell to add to the visitors' troubles.

To bounce back from a heavy defeat on the weekend with victory over a team like the Ospreys is a real achievemente Man-of-the-match Colin Charvis

A moment of magic from Owen dragged the Ospreys back into contention, the full-back's outside break taking him past Phil Dollman.

There was little space on the right, but three side-steps reminiscent of Phil Bennett in his pomp took Owen past Gareth Wyatt, Morgan and Wayne Evans.

Fussell dragged him down five yards from glory, but Owen off-loaded to the supporting Connor, who converted his own try to make it 11-10 at the break.

After a scrappy start to the second period, it was man-of-the-match Charvis who eased the home side's nerves.

A promising move looked to have broken down when Dollman's pass fell short of Rhodri Gomer Davies, but Charvis gathered dynamically to pile over from short range.

Kevin Morgan set the Dragons on their way with an early try

The Dragons captain had been refused permission to join the Wales training camp this week as coach Paul Turner considered him too important to the region's cause.

But the flanker may still make Wales' summer tour to South Africa, a trip that could prove a last hurrah for the 35-year-old who is out of contract at the end of the season and has hinted at retirement.

The Ospreys laboured on to the end, but will need to beat Connacht on Friday to avoid finishing the season as the only Magners League side not to have claimed a victory away from home.

"We haven't had a lot of good news here recently and have been struggling for confidence.

"So to bounce back from a heavy defeat on the weekend [to Leinster] with victory over a team like the Ospreys is a real achievement."

Dragons: Morgan, Wyatt, Gomer-Davies, Dolman, Fussell, Sweeney, W. Evans, Black, Daly, Harrison, A. Jones, Charteris, Charvis, Parks, Owen.
Replacements: Emerick for Gomer-Davies (67), Gustafson for Black (61), S. Jones for Daly (61), Robinson for Harrison (65), Hall for A. Jones (69), L. Evans for Owen (49). Not Used: Walker.

Ospreys: Owen, Bevan, Taylor, Spratt, Brew, Connor, Webb, James, Hibbard, Griffiths, Lloyd, Bateman, T-Pole, Tandy, Smith.
Replacements: Beck for Taylor (71), K. Phillips for Connor (58), Roberts for Webb (67), Shervington for Hibbard (61), Mitchell for Griffiths (71), Powell for Lloyd (67), Tiatia for T-Pole (58).

Att: 5,500

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)