Scarlets finally get better of the Ospreys

SCARLETS claimed their first derby victory in eight attempts, winning 22-14 against the Ospreys in front of a bumper festive crowd at Parc y Scarlets.

The region had not beaten Ospreys since December 2007, but a first-half try from prop Rhys Thomas and 17 points from the boot of Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland saw them home in a typically bruising RaboDirect Pro12 encounter.

Ospreys had threatened to stage a powerful fightback after trailing 16-3 at half-time, with Lions prop Adam Jones spearheading a dominant scrum.

But at 16-14, Priestland landed two more penalties to ease the nerves of the 14,756 crowd — a record league attendance for the region. There was an error-strewn start from both sides, with the Ospreys – minus two international locks in Ian Evans and Ian Gough — struggling at the line-out and the Scarlets finding life tough at scrum time.

On a surface that was cutting up badly, it was the home side who made the early impression on the scoreboard.

Priestland landed two penalties as reward for the Scarlets pressure, but the first clear-cut try-scoring opportunity went the way of Ospreys, Ireland wing Tommy Bowe spilling a pass with the line at his mercy.

Dan Biggar did post his side’s first points with a well-struck penalty, but the rest of the half belonged to Scarlets and they claimed the opening try after 31 minutes, prop Rhys Thomas driving through the challenge of Ryan Jones to touch down. Priestland converted, then added a penalty shortly after to put his side in firm command, 16-3 up at the interval.

Two Biggar penalties closed the gap after the break as the Ospreys came roaring back, before outstanding full-back Barry Davies crossed in the corner after fine work by centre Ashley Beck.

Biggar, though, missed the ~conversion and after that the pendulum swung again.

Priestland landed a couple of penalties to give the Scarlets breathing space and despite some late pressure from the Ospreys, the home defence held firm to secure a long-awaited win.

Meanwhile, flying Dutchman Tim Visser’s try double was not enough for Edinburgh to claim a RaboDirect PRO12 derby victory as Ruaridh Jackson’s late touchdown earned Glasgow Warriors a 23-23 draw at Murrayfield.

It was a contest which had all the intensity expected from a local derby, with places in Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations Championship squad also up for grabs.

Visser turned the game in Edinburgh’s favour with two tries in three minutes early in the second-half, while Ross Rennie also crossed the whitewash and Greig Laidlaw kicked eight points for the hosts.

But Warriors replacement Jackson claimed Glasgow’s third try three minutes from time to level the scores.

Jackson was denied further heroics as he missed the subsequent conversion and a last-minute penalty in blustery winds, but the Warriors’ unbeaten league run was extended to seven matches.