HEAD coach Kingsley Jones admits that Newport Gwent Dragons are missing the calming influence of injured centres Ashley Smith and Pat Leach after another error-strewn display.

The Rodney Parade region suffered a 17-15 home derby defeat to the Ospreys last night, a second success narrow loss in the Guinness Pro12 following their 16-11 loss to Connacht on opening weekend.

The Dragons can have no complaints about either result as they made far too many attacking mistakes in both Galway and Newport.

The region boast some exciting talent in their backs and ended the game with four teenagers on the pitch – fly-half Angus O'Brien, centres Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan and wing Hallam Amos.

The talent of the midfield pair of Dixon and Morgan is not under question – the odds would be short on them turning Wales Under-20s caps into full Test honours – but the management admit it's a tad early to be forced into pairing them together in regional rugby.

Their hand has been forced by injuries to 29-year-old Leach, who is likely to be out until at least November with a knee problem, and 27-year-old Smith, who is nearing a return after foot surgery.

And Jones admits they could do with a seasoned campaigner in midfield to settle down their attack.

He said: "We turned the ball over with 16 handling errors and we did the same in Connacht. That's an area for us to work on.

"The young guys get excited. They have got great ability and are positive but this is big boys stuff and it's about picking the moments.

"The Ospreys didn't need to do anything fancy, they were just direct and that comes with experience with Alun Wyn Jones leading the forwards and Dan Biggar controlling from 10.

"We don't have any options at centre and I don't want that to sound like Jack and Tyler wouldn't be in the team, but Ashley and Pat give us experience and we'd probably like to have one of them in there.

"But 10, 12 and 13 were with Wales Under-20s three months ago and that was a fantastic experience for those guys."

The Dragons looked doomed when Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb darted over to make it 17-6 with half an hour remaining but they fought back through the right boot of O'Brien, who was close to snatching the spoils with a minute left.

"We were five metres away with a drop kick to beat the Ospreys and a disallowed try away from beating Connacht," said Jones. "It's a fine line and we have to stay positive.

"We are a new team and after a 50 per cent squad change we are not where we were last year."

He continued: "Rhys Webb was the difference. We were a bit naive defensively for his pick-and-go through the ruck, because he's known for doing that, but his work down the blindside (chipping over the defence) for Eli Walker's try was the difference."