Ospreys pip Scarlets to win

by Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

With Christmas as far away as ever, attentions were turned to the main event of the Festive Season for the avid Scarlets supporter….the officially sold-out Boxing Day derby against the arch enemies – the Ospreys! Amazingly, this was only the third sell-out in the history of Parc y Scarlets – the first being the official opening game against the Barbarians, with the other being this same fixture 2 years ago.

Wales v England, Liverpool v Man Utd, Scarlets v Ospreys – the most anticipated game in the fixture calendar….the one you just HAVE to win!

The Scarlets haven’t had a particularly successful period on the pitch during the month of December so far, with the last victory against Connacht at the end of November, including the cruel ending of last week’s match against the Munstermen. However, a victory against the Ospreys would put a HUGE smile on those west of the Loughor Bridge.

Unfortunately affairs off the pitch have dominated the headlines over the past few weeks, culminating in the ‘Protect Our Game’ Campaign. Indeed, it is sad to think that this fixture, with the full stadium of 14,796, the ‘friendly’ banter amongst supporters and amazing atmosphere could well be the last one. The whole point of the campaign is not a negative one, slating the WRU, but rather one demonstrating the Regions working together to protect fixtures like this. Indeed, the rival supporters uniting pre kick-off to demonstrate their unity in this matter hopefully sent out a message to the powers that be, though with the whispers around that 3 new regions have already been identified, the outlook for the existing Regions looks very bleak.

Featuring 11 changes from those who faced the heart-breaking, dramatic ending in Musgrave Park, it was the hope that the Scarlets squad had not eaten too many mince pies during their Christmas Day celebrations as they faced a strong Ospreys squad.

Despite maintaining possession from the kick-off, the home team were soon in defensive mode as they faced the powerful Ospreys forwards, however, an off-side decision from referee Leighton Hodges and a great kick from Rhys Priestland soon saw the Scarlets back in the Ospreys half and the visitors seemingly in disarray as the Scarlets inched closer to the try line.

Outside Half Rhys Priestland opened the scoring for the men in Scarlets with a well-struck penalty to give his team a 3 points to 0 lead.

A dummy pass from Ospreys Scrum Half, Rhys Webb, together with supporting play from Dan Biggar put the Ospreys deep in the Scarlets half once more only to see their hard work come to nothing as a foot race ensued the other end of the pitch, with the ball eventually trickling into touch.

In a fast-tempered game, the Scarlets took on the Ospreys where they are considered the strongest, up front, and matched, if not won the battle on several occasions, recycling the ball well and turning the ball over.

A penalty kick from half way from Wing Frazier Climo offered the Scarlets an opportunity to double their score, but despite having the distance and almost the accuracy, he managed to find the right post with his effort.

For the first part of the game at least, it was an unfamiliar look to the visitors, they seemed to have little game plan as the errors crept into their game and they found great difficulty playing their way into the Scarlets 22.

Superb defence from Liam ‘Sanjay’ Williams, when the Ospreys finally did venture into the 22 saw him not only wriggle his way out of several tackles, but also get his pass away to clear the lines.

An poor attempt at an easy Drop Goal from Dan Biggar won the applause of the crowd wearing red and offered the Scarlets the chance to re-group, though they were unable to regain the possession and once again supreme defence from Liam Williams had the Boxing Day crowd on their feet.

Composure appeared to return to the Ospreys team as they went on the attack once again; however the defensive work from the home side was considerable along with their belief in themselves to be able to run the ball out of their own 22 without having to rely too much on the kicking game.

Following Climo’s half way kick attempt earlier in the match, Dan Biggar attempted to equalise the score with his own long range effort. However, Biggar being Biggar just had to try and place the ball a foot closer to the posts, though fortunately the eagle eye of referee Hodges halted his cheating attempts. His efforts to gain a few yards proved fruitless anyway as his kick was off target.

With the battle between International Hookers Richard Hibbard from the Ospreys and the Scarlets’ own Ken Owens, being noted as a key battle among the forwards, it was with sadness that Ken limped off just before the end of the half.

Again, the errors began creeping into the Ospreys game with two kicks in succession going straight into touch. This offered the home team a chance for a score just on half time. However, in a typical half of derby rugby – fast, passionate, sometimes scrappy and hardly anything between the both teams, the half ended with just the single penalty separating the two teams.

The second half began well for the Ospreys with Dan Biggar being offered an early chance to finally find his kicking boots and put the Ospreys on the score board, however, despite the ease of the kick, he was still unable to find any accuracy with his kicking and the Scarlets held on to their slender lead.

Again errors crept into the Ospreys play and the Scarlets attack became more focussed as they worked their way through the phases in the Ospreys 22, testing the Ospreys defence as they strived to cross the white wash.

Referee Hodges used the stadium screen and the expertise of TMO Tim Hayes to check his suspicions of foul play during the line-out as the penalty count against the Ospreys grew. With this particular penalty in a kickable position, Priestland doubled both his tally and his side’s score to give the Scarlets a 6 points to 0 lead, increasing his stake in as the winner of the Outside Half battle in the process.

Finally stringing together some passes, and building up phases, the visitors found themselves in the Scarlets 22 for the first time of the half, however, the power and accuracy of the Scarlets defence soon saw them going backwards before losing possession and they relied on a good placement kick from Bigger to get them back into a good attacking field position, though it was a Scarlets’ line-out.

A series of well-timed passes and good angles of running saw the home team back in the Ospreys 22, displaying the type of back play that the men in red have become famous for as they offered a good mix of passing and kicking rugby.

As both coaches began to bring on the substitutions, mindful that these teams would be meeting again in just 8 days’ time. Full Back Liam Williams left the pitch to a standing ovation from the Scarlets faithful as a measure of the defensive game he had played.

In a total turnaround from way the game had been played, it was the Ospreys supporters who were cheering the first crossing of the white wash of the afternoon, with Wing Hanno Dirksen squeezing his way in in the corner. Considerable debate ensued as to whether he was in touch before the grounding of the ball or not, with the various angles proving inconclusive. The huge roar from the home supporters met the decision that the try had not been awarded.

The Ospreys were obviously spurred on by the attack and demonstrated far more purpose in their play and just as the Scarlets seemed to become a little disjointed for the first time, another kicking error from the visitors aided the cause.

Dan Biggar was offered another attempt to put his side on the board, with a long range attempt, right in front of the posts and this time, finally managed to put his kicking demons to rest, cutting the deficit to 6 points to 3 as the game cr
ept towards the final 10 minutes.

Once again, home supporters were faced with a nail-biting end to a game as the Scarlets held on to the narrowest of leads but now faced a far more structured Ospreys who seemed to sense a victory could be theirs.

A penalty for the Ospreys saw Dan Biggar kick for the corner and for the first time in the match a huge ‘Scarlet’s roar echoed through the ground, however, it seemed unable to stop the driving force of the Ospreys who powered their way over for the first try of the afternoon. Referee Hodges made no hesitation in awarding the try, scored by replacement Ian Evans. Dan Biggar’s conversion give the Ospreys the lead for the first time – 6 points to 10, ensuring the Scarlets needed to score a try to win with just under 4 minutes remaining.

In an almost action replay of the Ospreys try scoring move, the Scarlets themselves kicked for the corner following a penalty, and with the thunderous roar of the home supporters, urging them on, drove towards the Ospreys try line. Another penalty kick to the corner saw them have a second attempt at the try and once again the Ospreys were penalised for off-side as they played down the clock.

A third attempt saw the home side’s rolling maul drive powerfully towards the try line and yet another penalty awarded against the Ospreys should surely have ended in a penalty try as well as the yellow card that saw the visitors end the game a man short.

With the seconds ticking away and the desperation increasing, the Scarlets moved the ball to the backs in an attempt to cross for that illusive try. Imperative that they kept ball in hand, the men in red worked through considerable phases of play but seemed unable to break the Ospreys defensive wall as the game reached full time.

Sadly, despite all the attacking and all the possession, the end of the game proved almost as heart-breaking as last week’s as despite keeping control of the ball for a long period, the Ospreys managed to steal the ball to clear the line deep into injury team.

It was hard-fought, typical Welsh Derby, not pretty, rather scrappy and not a spectacle of flowing rugby, but it was a tense battle and unfortunately on this occasion it was won by the Ospreys.

Let’s hope revenge will be sweet for the Scarlets when they travel to the Liberty Stadium on Friday January 3rd for the away fixture.