Guinness PRO12: Scarlets 26-27 Ospreys
Last Updated: 27/12/15 2:38pm
The Ospreys came back from behind to beat Scarlets 27-26 in the first of the weekend's Guinness PRO12 derbies.
Dan Biggar's conversion in the 58th minute gave Ospreys the lead for the first time in the match, and proved to be decisive as the fourth quarter remained scoreless.
Scartlers replacement Steve Shingler had a difficult chance to snatch victory late on, but pulled his effort left as the referee called time on a spirited Boxing Day derby. Despite the loss Scarlets remain at the top of the PRO12 standings.
Scarlets spent the first ten minutes putting their opponents under pressure with threatening attacks, and they were rewarded when John Barclay was the recipient of a looping pass to the right touchline to cross for the first try of the game.
Ospreys hit back immediately through the boot of Biggar before Aled Thomas reinstated the home side's seven-point lead when Ospreys centre Ben John strayed offside.
The two fly-halves traded kicks once more before Biggar put in a deft out-of-hand kick behind the Scarlets defence to force a five-metre defensive lineout. The ball was won by Scarlets but Aled Davies was charged down by Alun Wyn Jones after attempting a clearance kick from the in-goal area, handing the visitors an attacking scrum on their opponents' line.
Hanno Dirksen took the ball at first receiver and drove through the first tackler to crash over the line for his side's first try, and following the conversion from Biggar, the sides were locked at 13-13.
Scarlets took the lead shortly before half-time, with scrum-half Davies taking advantage of a gap close to a ruck for a try, but with 30 seconds left in the half Jake Ball took out Biggar late and was shown a yellow card.
Ospreys kicked for the corner, kept the ball alive and crept towards the line before skipper Jones stretched for a try that was converted by Biggar to leave the scores leave at 20-20 at the break.
Thomas slotted two penalties early in the second half as Scarlets returned to their full complement, but quick thinking from Ospreys during a penalty advantage saw tighthead prop Dmitri Arhip break blind before passing to Eli Walker who ran in for the try, giving the visitors the lead for the first time in the game.
Biggar had a chance to further his side's advantage from the tee but sent the effort left, setting up a tense final ten minutes that became increasingly heated.
Scarlets were then awarded a penalty with two minutes remaining and kicked for touch to set up the driving maul, but Dan Lydiate was penalised for a dangerous tackle on Aaron Shingler, offering Steve Shingler a shot at goal from out wide to win the match.
But the replacement was unable to convert the effort, sending it left and reducing Scarlets to a frustrating loss in front of their fans.
