Scarlets grab late draw

Stephen Jones: Late penalty

A late penalty from Stephen Jones gave the Scarlets a 9-9 draw after a stop-start RaboDirect PRO12 derby clash with the Ospreys at Liberty Stadium.

But the result was not without controversy as fly-half Jones was arguably lucky to be on the field after receiving a yellow rather than a red card for a tip tackle on Tommy Bowe in the first half.

Like Jones, Dan Biggar kicked three penalties for the Ospreys, who stay top of the table despite the late disappointment.

The Ospreys just about edged the first half and duly went into the break with a 3-0 lead.

Despite the lack of scoring there were plenty of talking points, with the biggest being Jones' tip tackle on Bowe, which only drew a yellow card from French referee Mathieu Raynel.

The challenge appeared worse than the now-famous tip tackle by Sam Warburton on Vincent Clerc which saw the Wales sent off in the World Cup semi-final against France.

Misses

Before he went to the sin-bin, Jones and opposite number Dan Biggar missed penalty goal attempts in the first quarter, as did Scarlets full-back Evans.

Jones' indiscretion resulted in the deadlock being broken as Biggar booted the Ospreys into a three-point lead on 24 minutes.

Despite the Ospreys also being reduced to 14 men - flanker Justin Tipuric seeing yellow for a ruck offence - the home side finished the half the stronger with Alun Wyn Jones crossing the line but failing to ground the ball - the closest either side came to scoring a try.

It took just two minutes of the second half for the Scarlets to get back on level terms as Jones scored a penalty after the Ospreys were penalised at a scrum.

But just four minutes later the hosts were back in control as Biggar kicked penalties on 46 and 48 minutes to put his side 9-3 in front.

Even though Jones reduced the deficit with a 59th minute penalty, the Scarlets did not help themselves as the Wales fly-half and Evans missed a kick apiece.

Biggar also missed a penalty on 68 minutes, which would prove costly as Jones nailed a 78th-minute effort to draw the scores level.