Biggar puts the boot in as Scarlets’ title hopes take a hit
After the Ospreys won at Parc y Scarlets in September they were again the dominant side with a penalty try and two further tries for lock James King and skipper Kahn Fotuali’i.
Fly-half Dan Biggar added 14 points with the boot and Fotuali’i also kicked a drop-goal as Ospreys stormed to victory in Swansea last night.
The Scarlets were not helped that they had replacements Rob McCusker and Gareth Owen sent off in the final minutes and also had another three players sin-binned — George Earle, Tavis Knoyle and Aled Thomas.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues moved up two places in the table to seventh with a hard-fought 12-10 victory at the Arms Park yesterday.
Though under the cosh for much of the match, they pulled through thanks to four penalties from teenage fly-half Rhys Patchell.
The Dragons claimed the only try of the contest through centre Andy Tuilagi but were left to rue other missed chances during a game played in appalling conditions.
Despite playing into the wind and driving rain, it was the visitors who were to have the better of the first half — but crucially, they were unable to convert that pressure into points, with outside-half Dan Evans sending an early penalty attempt to the right of the posts and also failing with another.
In contrast, the Blues were to take their chances when they came along.
From virtually their first entry into opposition territory on 15 minutes, they took the lead through Patchell, who struck a fine angled 45 metre penalty after Dragons winger Mike Poole pushed Dafydd Hewitt into touch off the ball.
The 19-year-old Patchell was to strike twice more as the conditions worsened, with the rain turning torrential midway through the first-half.
On 21 minutes, he doubled the lead after Wales skipper Sam Warburton won a penalty with some excellent breakdown work, and just before the half hour mark, Patchell landed his third successful shot at the sticks after the Dragons went offside.
His opposite number Evans had an immediate opportunity to hit back when the Dragons were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts courtesy of their dominant scrum.
But Evans sent it wide to leave his team trailing 9-0 at the break.
It was not long before that advantage was significantly reduced however, as Tuilagi scored the opening try on 48 minutes — smashing through winger Harry Robinson, taking two players to the line with him.
Scrum-half Wayne Evans added the conversion with Dan Evans injured and it was the latter’s replacement at fly-half, Lewis Robling, who put the Dragons ahead for the first time on the hour mark.
Their lead was short-lived however as Patchell promptly landed his fourth penalty, making light of the wind in his face.
And, despite piling on the pressure, the Dragons were unable to conjure up the winning score, with Robling just wide with a late drop goal attempt.
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