Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Ospreys claim west Wales derby win over Scarlets

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Tuesday, 26 December 2023 11:21

Ospreys celebrated the United Rugby Championship (URC) west Wales derby win against struggling Scarlets.

Following a scoreless first half, Ospreys scored tries through Reuben Morgan-Williams, Sam Parry and Jack Walsh with Owen Williams adding 10 points.

Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies scored a try with Ioan Lloyd adding two penalties.

Dwayne Peel's side were left to rue four missed Lloyd kicks.

That was 11 points going astray as Scarlets failed to build on the first-half superiority and they left the match with no points.

It was a first Ospreys win in Llanelli in a competitive match since 2015 as they rose to ninth in the table and completed the double over their closest rivals, with young lock James Fender awarded player of the match.

Scarlets remain 14th with two wins and eight defeats in all competitions this season. Ospreys host Cardiff in Bridgend on New Year's Day while Scarlets travel to face Dragons.

Missing in action

Both sides had late withdrawals with Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow and Ospreys number eight Morgan Morris missing through injury.

Morgan Morse, 18, made just his second professional start as he replaced Morris, with Wales captain Jac Morgan also absent because of a knee injury.

Costelow, who was due to make his return after being sidelined since early November, failed a fitness test on his hamstring problem. Ioan Lloyd switched to fly-half with Ioan Nicholas starting at full-back.

Scarlets were boosted by the return of captain Josh Macleod and Tonga international Sam Lousi in the back row but Vaea Fifita was missing with a calf injury.

Prop Sam Wainwright featured for the first time since the death of his father in November. Former Wales prop Samson Lee brought out the match ball with his family after being forced to retire earlier this month because of an Achilles problem.

And Lee would have been proud of the first scrum penalty his old side gained although Lloyd missed the chance to open the scoring as he missed two kicks at goal in the opening quarter.

Ospreys centre George North made a couple of forays into the Scarlets defence with the visitors' opening attack but his speculative attempted pass went astray as the move broke down.

There was almost as much action off the field as Ospreys forwards coach and water carrier Duncan Jones managed to get in the way of Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies taking a quick tap penalty after Harri Deaves transgressed. Jones was exonerated of any wrongdoing.

Lloyd missed a third penalty when he struck the post before half-back partner Gareth Davies was held up over the Ospreys line by centre Owen Watkin with no score in the first half.

Davies broke the deadlock early in the second half as he intercepted a Rhys Davies pass to sprint away to score. Lloyd missed the conversion.

Ospreys scrum-half Morgan-Williams burrowed over after a rare excursion into the Scarlets 22 with Williams adding the conversion before slotting over a penalty.

Lousi was playing his first game in two months and had proved one of the most influential performers but was withdrawn after 53 minutes for Ben Williams.

Referee Craig Evans decided to show Ospreys centre Watkin a yellow card in the second half for persistent offending despite the initial team warning coming in the first half.

Lloyd brought Scarlets to within a score with his first successful kick at his fifth attempt before displaying his dazzling footwork with a counter-attack that was eventually halted by Ospreys replacement hooker Parry.

Referee Evans evened up the numbers when he sin-binned Scarlets skipper Macleod for a no-arms tackle and Parry ensured he took advantage with a close-range drive.

Wasteful Scarlets failed in a bid to score late on when wing Tom Rogers ignored an overlap while replacement flanker Ben Williams was denied by Luke Morgan.

Lloyd looked like Scarlets had ensured a late bonus point with a second penalty.

As Scarlets were chasing the draw, they spilled possession and full-back Walsh gathered the loose ball and sprinted away to score to deny the hosts even that losing bonus point.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jac Price, Sam Lousi, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Josh Macleod (capt).

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Joe Jones, Morgan Jones, Ben Williams, Kieran Hardy, Jonathan Davies, Charlie Titcombe.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Mat Protheroe, George North, Owen Watkin, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Fender, Adam Beard (capt), Rhys Davies, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morse.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Lewis Jones, Tristan Davies, Luke Davies, Dan Edwards, Luke Morgan.

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones & Ben Breakspear (WRU)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

Read 151 times

Soccer

Lauren, Jrue Holiday invest in NWSL's Courage

Lauren, Jrue Holiday invest in NWSL's Courage

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLauren Holiday had done it all on the field.She retired in 2015 as...

Arena: Poch doesn't understand culture of USMNT

Arena: Poch doesn't understand culture of USMNT

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFormer United States men's national team coach Bruce Arena has crit...

Wrexham a 'circus,' says rival boss before clash

Wrexham a 'circus,' says rival boss before clash

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWrexham have been branded a "circus" by Charlton Athletic manager N...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Fredette, BYU great to 2024 Olympian, retires

Fredette, BYU great to 2024 Olympian, retires

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJimmer Fredette, a college basketball star at BYU who went on to be...

Source: Pelicans hire Wizards' Weaver as VP

Source: Pelicans hire Wizards' Weaver as VP

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe New Orleans Pelicans have hired Troy Weaver as their senior vic...

Baseball

Mets targeting Alvarez, McNeil returns on Friday

Mets targeting Alvarez, McNeil returns on Friday

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez and second baseman Jeff...

Phillies DFA Clemens, say no MRI for Sanchez

Phillies DFA Clemens, say no MRI for Sanchez

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Kody Clemens, a son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated