Huge endeavour from Scarlets but close encounter goes visitors way

This was the big one. A record crowd of 13,707 had high expectations following a huge build up throughout the week leading up to the game. And a hard fought game that went down to the wire ensured the near full house at Parc y Scarlets was entertained throughout.

There was a tumultuous welcome for the Scarlets and a buzz around Parc y Scarlets on a Saturday night with a big crowd in fine voice from the very start. It was a record Scarlets derby crowd for a fixture outside the Christmas period.

Early Scarlets pressure on the Ospreys, after they had won the lineout saw the Scarlets driving the Ospreys back into their own half and conceding a penalty between the 10 metre line and half way.

Stephen Jones stepped up, but missed the mark. From the restart, the Scarlets found themselves back in the Ospreys 22. Tavis Knoyle drove forward as the Scarlets start with purpose. They kept possesion and the Ospreys conceded another penalty on the 22. Jones steps up again and is successful this time. Within five minutes, the Scarlets were ahead 3-0.

The Scarlets were then penalised for offside just inside the 10 metre line following a rare Ospreys period of attack. Biggar goes for the posts and it’s 3-3 after 8mins.

A Stephen Jones kick from inside his half, following stealing lineout ball from the Ospreys, takes the Scarlets up to the Ospreys 22. Dan Biggar tested Daniel Evans under the high ball and saw the Scarlets full back pass with flying colours. From an Ospreys back move the ball was passed forward but Evans picked up the ball and ran unopposed to the line only for referee Nigel Owens to call him back.

A Stephen Jones cross kick was gathered by Sean Lamont, only for him to be tackled a few metres short of the line but the Scarlets kept the pressure up, with Tavis Knoyle in the thick of everything. A beautiful Regan King break through the Ospreys midfield saw the Scarlets get closer to the Ospreys line, their clearing kick didn’t find touch and the Scarlets start again. Biggar failed to clear his lines, slicing his kick to touch. The Scarlets line out possession saw the pack move forward, still in the Ospreys 22. With twenty minutes gone the scores are level, but the Ospreys have hardly been in the Scarlets half.

The Ospreys missed a chance to break out of their half spoilt by a lineout that was not deemed straight and matters got worse when they were further penalised for turning the scrum. Stephen Jones steps up and is successful. 6-3 after 24 minutes.

Stephen was controlling play skillfully with ball in hand and with his positional kicking, but it was still very tight. In the twenty eighth minute, the Ospreys were inside the Scarlets 22 for only the second time. But it came to nothing, from the resulting clearing kick, Josh Turnbull was penalised at the ruck, Biggar, from just within the half way line succeeded with his kick. 6-6.

On the half hour then, the scores were equal but territory and possession advantage was with the Scarlets. Turnbull, Manu and Thomas drove the ball forward towards the Ospreys 22 again, only for a knock-on decision to be given against the Scarlets that the noisy crowd showed they weren’t at all happy about!

On the 35 minute mark youngster Scott Williams came on for his Scarlets competitive debut replacing the injured George North. Birthday boy Regan King (30) showed two flashes of his brilliance, one break and one pass to release Tavis Knoyle, from which forwards did the rest, driving up to the Opsreys try line, igniting a ringing out of Sospan Fach from the crowd. With the line begging, the ball was lost as the clock neared forty minutes.

The Scarlets forward pressure was just too much for the Ospreys, pushing them backwards upfield and again forcing an offence as they tried to defend. Stephen Jones went for goal and it was over. 9-6 in first half injury time. The half ended with a Stephen Jones catch in is own half a kick and chase and ending with a crunching tackle on the defending Ospreys close to his 22 – that just about summed up the determination and commitment shown by the Scarlets in the first half.

It was Stephen Jones who started things off in the second half with a first minute penalty on the 22. 12-6 to the Scarlets. There was no let up on the Scarlets’ first half pressure either, although a long range clearing kick from Lee Byrne did take the Opsreys up to Scarlets 22. Ryan Jones came on to replace Ian Gough, as the Ospreys were penalised again for lying on the ball on the floor, just inside the Scarlets half. Tavis Knoyle took a quick penalty but possession was back with the Opsreys and they drove towards the 22. Fussell crossed for a try. Biggar converted. 12-13 after 6 minutes.

The Ospreys were immediately penalised again on the half way line and conceded another ten metres for their reaction. Stephen Jones went for goal, and there was no doubt with his kick. 15-13. This was real ding dong derby stuff with less than ten minutes gone in the second half.

There was a close shave as Jones on his own try line, gathered a high kick, stopped it going into touch, passed to Tavis Knoyle but there was no room to clear. A scrum five was the result with the Scarlets under pressure.

The Ospreys stepped up the tempo and they were soon back on the Scarlets try line. The forwards defended succesfully. Ospreys continued through the phases and Alun Wyn Jones crossed in the corner for the Ospreys second try after the TMO confirms that the ball was grounded. The conversion by Biggar hit the post. 15-18 to the Ospreys. Rhys Thomas and Josh Turnbull move upfield following another Regan King break. Rob McCusker comes on for the Scarlets.

The Scarlets didn’t buckle under increasing Ospreys pressure and were soon back in their half. Josh Turnbull was busy in more than one move linking play and making ground upfield. The Ospreys were penalised again, this time for not releasing the player in the tackle. The penalty was just outside the 22 and Stephen Jones’ kick went over. 18-18.

With ten minutes to go, Jonny F replaced Dominic Day, as the Ospreys again looked dangerous, moving the ball out wide towards the Scarlets line. The Ospreys secured a scrum five metres out for a knock on, with eight minutes left, Biggar sat in the pocket for the drop goal, but a first attempt did not materialise. The Scarlets back row deal with the Ospreys possesion with their backs to the line. Dan Biggar this time successfully drops a goal and it’s 18-21. Scarlets are soon back in their 22 following a long range upfield kick from Byrne as Rhys Priestland comes on for the injured Scott Williams and Martin Roberts comes on for Tavis Knoyle.

Jonny F quickly makes his mark as does Martin Roberts following a Regan King and Josh Turnbull break. Stephen Jones misses with a penalty attempt after another Opsreys offence. It’s full time on the clock and the Scarlets are trailing by just three points. A clearing kick takes the Ospreys back into the Scarlets 22 and Stephen Jones clears back towards the half way line. But there was to be no further score and a closely fought match ended 18-21 to the Ospreys.