The Ospreys claimed Parc y Scarlets as their unlikely home venue for this Boxing Day derby; but a fact that both head coach Toby Booth and the playing group deny will have any bearing on the mindset and the preparation for the game.
Scarlets had a strong start to the first half, just inches short of breaching the Ospreys defence and scoring a try; but valiant defending relieved pressure. It was in fact the Ospreys that got the first points on the board through the ever-reliable boot of outside half Stephen Myler.
Ospreys scrumhalf Reuben Morgan-Williams ran in Ospreys’ first try, and Scarlets outside half Dan Jones retaliated with a penalty soon after. Two missed shots at goal from the Scarlets meant that the Ospreys clung onto their five-point lead at half-time.
The two outside halves exchanged a pair of penalties each in the second half, but the fateful moment came with just ten minutes remaining. Replacement back row Blade Thomson played a key role in setting up the try for Scarlets’ Angus O’Brien, and the conversion took his side into the lead for the first time.
The Ospreys never got any significant possession after that point and the Scarlets ran the clock down effectively, closing the game out and securing a gritty derby win.