WALES DUO SHINE IN DERBY VICTORY
WALES pair Jonathan Davies and Leigh Halfpenny put aside their British and Irish Lions disappointment to inspire Scarlets to PRO14 Rainbow Cup victory over Ospreys in Llanelli.
Centre Davies set up a try for prop Alex Jeffries while Halfpenny kicked 17 points in atrocious conditions.
Ospreys’ 2021 Lions tour captain Alun Wyn Jones and fellow tourist Justin Tipuric could not inspire their side.
Luke Price responded with two penalties for the disappointing visitors.
Halfpenny was the Lions man of the series against Australia in 2013 while Davies gained the same accolade against New Zealand four years later, but the pair have been overlooked by Warren Gatland for this year’s trip of South Africa.
Another 2021 Lion, hooker Ken Owens, led Scarlets expertly in the west Wales derby, while the region’s three other tourists, Liam Williams, Gareth Davies and Wyn Jones, were not involved.
Scarlets dominated the kicking and aerial battle with Wales scrumhalf Kieran Hardy named man-ofthe-match having impressed on his first start since the Six Nations victory over England in late February.
Ospreys were looking to build on their 36-14 win over Cardiff Blues, while Scarlets hoped to bounce back from a 52-32 defeat at Dragons last time out.
Ospreys outside-half Price opened the scoring with a penalty before
Scarlets skipper Owens galvanised his side with a surging run.
Halfpenny levelled the scores with a penalty off the post before the hosts had a try disallowed through centre Davies, who lost control of the ball while going over the line.
Scarlets second-row Jake Ball was yellow carded for a clumsy challenge on the covering Price but that did not distract the home side.
A rare dropped ball in greasy conditions from Tipuric led to a penalty which Halfpenny slotted over.
Flanker Jac Morgan, who is joining Ospreys next season, had a storming first half, with Halfpenny slotting over a third penalty.
Davies turned creator with an incisive burst and outrageous offload to feed prop Jeffries, who sprinted away to score.
Halfpenny converted to give the hosts a 16-3 interval lead before slotting over his fourth penalty early in the second half.
Ospreys rallied as Price kicked a second penalty but they failed to score from a series of attacking driving lineouts.
It was Halfpenny who fittingly had the final word with his fifth penalty even though Scarlets replacement Uzair Cassiem was handed a late yellow card for a professional foul.
SCARLETS: Leigh Halfpenny; Tom Rogers, Tyler Morgan, Jonathan Davies, Steff Evans; Angus O’brien, Kieran Hardy; Rob Evans, Ken Owens (capt), Alex Jeffries, Jake Ball, Lewis Rawlins, Aaron Shingler, Jac Morgan, Blade Thomson. Replacements: Ryan Elias, Steff Thomas, Werner Kruger, Lewis Rawlins, Uzair Cassiem, Dane Blacker, Paul Asquith, Joe Roberts. OSPREYS: Dan Evans; Cai Evans, Owen Watkin, Tiaan Thomas wheeler, Mat Protheroe; Luke Price, Matthew Aubrey; Gareth Thomas, Ifan Phillips, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Cross, Justin Tipuric (capt), Ethan Roots. Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, Bradley Davies, Rhys Davies, Reuben Morgan williams, Joe Hawkins, Luke Morgan.
REFEREE: Ben Blain (SRU)