JOHNNY’S DOUBLE BAGS SCARLETS WIN
A JOHNNY McNicholl brace helped the Scarlets edge out the Ospreys 2219 in a tense Welsh derby.
Because of Covid-related postponements, it was the Scarlets’ first appearance on the field since October 22 and their resolve was rewarded with a match-winning try from McNicholl three minutes from time.
Gareth Davies and Steff Evans also scored tries for the Scarlets, with Dan Jones adding a conversion.
Rhys Webb touched down twice for the Ospreys either side of a Luke Morgan try, while Josh Thomas kicked two conversions.
The hosts started the fastest at Parc y Scarlets with both Scott and Liam Williams producing early 50:22s to give their side good attacking opportunities.
The centre’s was spurned but Dwayne Peel’s side took advantage of the full-back’s pinpoint kick with the first score of the match in the ninth minute.
Both Williams boys carried well during the passage but it was a deft offload from Dan Jones, who had dummied the snipe around the side of the ruck, that sent Davies over from close range.
Fly-half Jones converted to give the Scarlets an ideal start.
But it was spoiled as flanker Josh Macleod, playing his first game since rupturing his Achilles last February, limped from the field as the try was converted.
The Scarlets’ indiscipline soon gave the Ospreys access to their 22, though, and Will Griffiths was held up after some sharp work at a lineout five metres out.
Both sides were turning down shots at goal and it eventually paid off for the visitors. From another setpiece in the home 22, Webb sniped over, with Thomas’s conversion levelling the scores.
Webb accused an opponent of a gouge as he scored but, after reviewing the footage, referee Adam Jones deemed the evidence inconclusive.
Minutes later the visitors should have taken the lead when excellent inter-passing put Dan Evans into space, but the full-back elected to go it alone and was held up over the line by Tom Price.
The Scarlets began to look like a side who hadn’t played a competitive match since October 22 as the half wore on with mistakes creeping in on both sides of the ball.
And the Ospreys soon scored their second. A poor crossfield kick from Jones saw Thomas collect and boot the ball downfield for Morgan to show his pace by beating McNicholl and Jones to the touchdown.
Thomas couldn’t convert but the Ospreys were good value for their 12-7 lead at the break.
Three minutes after the restart, Jones missed a straightforward penalty and was soon replaced by Rhys
Patchell, who was featuring for the first time since October 2020.
The Scarlets started the half on the front foot, with the game being played almost exclusively in Ospreys territory for the first 10 minutes.
Eventually, they made their territorial dominance count. Some tight carries shortened up the visiting defence nicely and neat hands from Rob Evans and replacement fly-half Patchell created space.
McNicholl showed good patience before releasing the scoring pass to Evans, who was in acres of space on the far side.
Patchell’s conversion attempt rebounded back off a post.
The Ospreys hit back almost immediately as Scarlets captain Scott Williams gave away a penalty for kicking out at a ball in a ruck.
The Ospreys capitalised as they took a quick tap-penalty and carries from Jac Morgan and full-back Evans took play down to the Scarlets line. And Webb saw a gap to score his second, with Thomas’s conversion extending the lead to seven points.
The Ospreys appeared to be in control, but more slick hands from Patchell nine minutes later saw Sam Lousi put McNicholl in space and the Wales international sprinted 55 metres and away from Michael Collins to score.
Patchell couldn’t convert and the visitors led by two points heading into the final 15 minutes.
Patchell missed a penalty from out wide that would have given his side the lead but he wouldn’t live to rue it.
With two minutes to go, Aaron Shingler burst through Jac Morgan’s tackle to get within a few metres. And Ospreys numbers ran out again as the ball was shifted wide to McNicholl and he strolled over for his
second try to win the match.
Patchell missed the conversion – the home side’s fourth wayward kick of the night – but it did not affect the result.