WALES PAIR SHINE IN DERBY TRIUMPH
WALES pair Jonathan Davies and Leigh Halfpenny put aside their British and Irish Lions disappointment to inspire the Scarlets to a PRO14 Rainbow Cup victory over the Ospreys in Llanelli.
Centre Davies set up a try for prop Alex Jeffries, while Halfpenny kicked 17 points in atrocious conditions.
The 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 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 to South Africa.
Another 2021 Lion, hooker Ken Owens, led the Scarlets expertly, while the region’s three other tourists, Liam Williams, Gareth Davies and Wyn Jones, were not involved.
The Scarlets dominated the kicking and aerial battle, with Wales scrumhalf Kieran Hardy named man of the match having impressed on his first start since the Six Nations victory over England in late February.
The Ospreys were looking to build on their 36-14 win over Cardiff Blues, while the Scarlets hoped to bounce back from a 52-32 defeat at the Dragons last time out.
Ospreys fly-half Price opened the scoring with an early penalty as the visitors enjoyed the majority of territory during the opening exchanges at Parc y Scarlets.
The Scarlets finally burst into life with a searing break from Blade Thomson, who offloaded to Aaron Shingler, with the Wales forward surging into the Ospreys 22.
And after going through the phases, Davies slid over the line but the try was disallowed after the television match official decided he had lost control of the ball.
Halfpenny kicked his first penalty to level the scores in the 16th minute before Jake Ball, who will be departing Llanelli to return to Australia at the end of the season, received a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on the covering Price.
Following a charge-down, Ospreys playmaker Price was slow to rise after diving on the ball and was subsequently smashed by Ball.
At one stage it looked as though referee Ben Blain might opt for a red card, but after reviewing the television footage it was described as a “reckless dive” with the first point of contact the shoulder.
The Scarlets survived and a rare Justin Tipuric error, with the dependable openside spilling a high ball and being caught offside, allowed the hosts to take the lead through Halfpenny’s boot.
Flanker Jac Morgan, who is joining the Ospreys next season, had a storming first half, with Halfpenny slotting over a third penalty.
And the hosts ended the first half strongly as their pack began to get on top.
A powerful break from Davies and a sublime offload sent Jeffries over for a tremendous try as he sprinted away to score.
Halfpenny added the extras to give his side a commanding 16-3 lead at the interval.
The hosts began the second half with intent and Halfpenny extended their lead to 16 points with another penalty.
Toby Booth’s side hit back with a powerful driving line-out, but they failed to force their way over from a series of attacking set-pieces.
And they had to make do with three points from Price’s boot.
The Scarlets began to cough up the penalties and were let off the hook when hooker Ifan Phillips, the son of former Wales and Neath hooker Kevin, was held up over the try-line.
As the game wore on, the rain came down heavier as the Scarlets took control, with their forwards battering the visitors into submission.
And Halfpenny sealed the home side’s victory with a late penalty from 45 metres out on the angle, despite replacement forward Uzair Cassiem being sent to the sin-bin for killing the ball in the 79th minute.
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, Blade Thomson, Jac Morgan. 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 ThomasWheeler, Mat Protheroe; Luke Price, Matthew Aubrey; Gareth Thomas, Ifan Phillips, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Cross, Ethan Roots, Justin Tipuric (capt). Replacements: Sam Parry, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, Bradley Davies, Rhys Davies, Reuben MorganWilliams, Joe Hawkins, Luke Morgan.