Ospreys v ScaRLETS
BKT United Rugby Championship
Parc y Scarlets
29th March 2025
After a strong start from Ospreys, it was Scarlets who came away with the first hit in the West Wales Derby double. A string of unanswered points in the middle third of the game saw them put the game to bed in front of a home crowd at Parc y Scarlets.
The game started strongly for Ospreys, who took advantage of a poor Scarlets kickoff to secure a line out on the 5 metres. Scarlets competed well and stole the ball, but were quickly smothered on their own try line. Morgan Morris took advantage of the new law and touched it down for the score as the ball was placed from the ruck. Dan Eds converted. Scarlets 0 - 7 Ospreys.
Ospreys continued to assert an early dominance, with inventive attack and physical carrying spearheaded by the try scorer, Morgan Morris. The early pressure paid off as Scarlets gave away a penalty in front of the sticks that Dan Eds threaded over with ease. Scarlets 0 - 10 Ospreys.
TRY FOR THE OSPREYS! The boys worked the ball out wide to see Conbeer break, then whip it out to Iestyn Hopkins who dinked it over the top. Scarlets failed to recover, allowing Iestyn to dive on the ball for the second try of the game. Dan Eds converted a tough kick. Scarlets 0 - 17 Ospreys.
Kieran Hardy’s box kicks were doing some real damage early on, putting the Scarlets back three under pressure and providing plenty of opportunity for the Ospreys chasers.
As we hit the 20 minute mark, Scarlets got on the scoreboard. With a penalty advantage, Ioan Lloyd whipped a miss pass out to Ellis Mee and he popped it back inside from the touchline for Blair Murray to finish. Lloyd missed the conversion. Scarlets 5 - 17 Ospreys.
The home side looked a different team after their try, asking questions of the Ospreys defence and enjoying a spell off possession deep into opposition territory. It eventually paid off and Ospreys saw a man sent to the bin with seven minutes left in the half as George McGuigan paid the price for repeated team infringements.
Almost instantly after, the Scarlets were awarded a penalty try from the maul. Scarlets 12 - 17 Ospreys.
The yellow card for the penalty try was awarded against Kieran Hardy, but unclear communication saw Hardy remain on the field as play restarted. The TMO was quick to flag the error and Hardy left the field to a Scarlets penalty.
For the second week in a row, Dan Edwards found himself covering at nine in Hardy's absence. Evardi Boshoff was holding the line in the midfield, but eventually the Scarlets made use of the two man advantage and were able to get over in the corner through Vaea Fifita. Lloyd missed the conversion we went in all level at the hlaf after a breathless 40 minutes. Scarlets 17 - 17 Ospreys.
HALF TIME - SCARLETS 17 - 17 OSPREYS.
As play resumed the Ospreys were still reduced to 13, and Scarlets continued to take advantage as they moved the ball through the hands and into space. Joe Roberts found his way home with a breakaway try before Ioan Lloyd knocked over the conversion. SCARLETS 24 - 17 OSPREYS.
Scarlets were able to extend their lead soon after as a deft crossfield kick from Gareth Davies was recovered well by Joe Roberts who crossed for the score. Lloyd converted. SCARLETS 31 - 17 OSPREYS.
With 1 5 men back on the pitch, Ospreys recovered possession and pressured the home side, winning a penalty in front of sticks. With Lake and Botha on in the front row, we opted for the scrum and immediately turned the screw to win multiple scrum penalties. Despite five infringements, Scarlets got away with a warning and were eventually able to clear their lines as a final scrum went their way.
Back on the attack, Scarlets took advantage of a loose ball that bobbled past Conbeer and came off a Scarlets head, allowing Plumtree to gather and cross for another. Lloyd converted, and it was all with the home team in the second half. SCARLETS 38 - 17 OSPREYS.
With just under 15 minutes left to go, Scarlets were reduced to 14 as Josh McLeod saw yellow for playing the scrum half at the ruck. Play slowed down from it's previous frantic pace and Ospreys enjoyed a spell of possession.
TRY FOR OSPREYS! Dan Edwards punched through a hole in the Scarlets line in a moment of individual brilliance, crossing for our first score in the second half. He was unable to convert his own score. SCARLETS 38 - 22 OSPREYS.
Ospreys were unable to find a fourth try in the closing passages and the first instalment of the West Wales Derby double ended in the Scarlets favour.
FULL TIME - SCARLETS 38 - 22 OSPREYS.
A tough day at the Parc. We'll come back stronger next week, when there's more than bragging rights on the line as the EPCR knockouts arrive at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Make usure you're there to cheer the boys on and finish the West Wales Derby double on a high.