TIME RUNS OUT TO END SCARLETS’ FINE DERBY RECORD
TIMEKEEPING issues came close to denying the Ospreys a first Guinness PRO14 victory over the Scarlets in two seasons.
Had the hosts not won the Guinness PRO14 encounter in Swansea, the certainty is there would have been an almighty row.
The Ospreys were leading 19-12 with the stadium clock showing 80 minutes when Sam Davies booted the ball out of play.
But, to the consternation of the home side, referee Ben Whitehouse indicated the stadium clock was wrong and there was still time to play.
Clearly fired up, Justin Tipuric somehow managed to channel his frustration into messing up the resultant Scarlets line-out and he and his pack then shoved a maul into touch.
There was still time for a mass dustup between the two sides as tempers spilled over.
We look at how the dramatic final seconds prompted the red mist to come down and passions to boil over...
HOW WAS THERE A PROBLEM?
Referee Whitehouse had a different take from the person running the stadium and TV clocks.
That individual is understood to have been provided by the Welsh Rugby Union.
Until this season the WRU were believed to be the only home union who didn’t provide timekeepers at domestic league matches, with responsibility left with the host club. That has changed.
But, ultimately, the referee is the final arbiter of time in a game and so Whitehouse’s view held sway.
SO WHAT TRIGGERED THE LATE DRAMA?
It could have been so costly for the Ospreys.
With the Scarlets pressing and time appearing to be up, Sam Davies launched the ball into touch.
That appeared that, with home fans ready to crack open the champagne and start their festive celebrations.
But Whitehouse wasn’t ready for his shower just yet.
He signalled that there was still time for a line-out, saying there were five seconds still to play and indicating players had been made aware previously.
Sam Davies had a face like thunder and Justin Tipuric sought an explanation.
Whitehouse told the Ospreys captain the stadium clock was incorrect.
Bedlam appeared ready to erupt.
TIPURIC STEPS UP
The Scarlets threw to the front of the line-out barely five metres from the home line.
But Tipuric leapt high to disrupt the visitors’ possession.
A maul formed and the Ospreys pack pushed their rivals into touch.
All was in order for Whitehouse this time.
It was game over for the Scarlets. But players from both sides then
engaged in a pushing and shoving match as emotions hit boiling point.
’Twas ever thus in a Loughor Bridge derby.
WHAT DID SCARLETS COACH WAYNE PIVAC SAY?
“They did waste a lot of time, didn’t they?” said the New Zealander.
“I was quite pleased that call went our way.
“It gave us one more opportunity. “But it was a poor call by us in terms of the line-out option and we turned it over and lost that last shot.”
THE ALLEN CLARKE VIEW
He was actually pleased with the way his side had battled back into a game in which they had trailed at half-time after the Scarlets had scrum dominance.
Of the fun and games in the game’s twilight moments, he said: “There was the drama right to the end and beyond.
“Fortunately we stole the line-out and killed the game off.
“There was a bit of uncertainty there. It happens.
“I thought Ben Whitehouse refereed the game well.”
BUT HE WASN’T TOTALLY HAPPY...
He reckoned that no one should have been in any doubt in those final moments that the stadium clock was incorrect.
“I was listening through the ref’s mic and there was quite a conversation through the game between touchies and the ref,” said the Ospreys head coach.
“I heard him say that the stadium clock’s incorrect.
“With respect, you’re in the heat of the moment in derby football and everybody’s wrecked on both sides of the ball.
“If one player hears it, it doesn’t mean that everybody’s heard it.
“It’s obviously something we need to look (in) to.
“Fortunately, it won’t be a headline because we had the defensive resolve to shut the game out.”
SHOULD SUCH THINGS BE HAPPENING?
“Not at this level of footie,” said Clarke. “It’s not for me to comment on who’s responsible and what the communication is between the officials and the stadium clock.
“If there’s an issue with the stadium clock it should be communicated to both teams prior to the last seconds of the game. It could have been an anti-climax for us but it probably added to the flavour of winning.”
A PLAYER’S TAKE
Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas said: “We were working to 80 minutes on the stadium clock and we were ahead. Then it turned out there was a bit of time left. But it worked out well in the end, with Tipuric disrupting their line-out. It was a good way to finish a good derby.”
A FAIR RESULT, THEN?
Yes, the Ospreys deserved their win for the character they showed in hitting back. They were up against it in the opening half, with Samson Lee and Rob Evans turning the screw in the scrums and the Ospreys conceding too many penalties.
But the Scarlets lost the strongscrummaging Jake Ball to injury and the match turned.
When the sides came out for the second half their scrum dominance was gone and the Ospreys’ line-out went from strength to strength, with Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard and Justin Tipuric outstanding.
And the axis of Aled Davies, Sam Davies and Scott Williams controlled play with increasing authority.
Sam Davies popped over two dropgoals, kicked intelligently and made a series of good decisions.
Credit the Scarlets, though: they didn’t stop fighting. But they are under the pump with injuries this season and the loss of Ball, plus bumps picked up by Rhys Patchell and Ed Kennedy will hardly help.
Clockgate offered them a possible lifeline.
But they couldn’t take it, with time finally running out on them.