Ospreys See Off Scarlets

Ryan Jones capped a superb personal performance with a try as his rampant Ospreys comfortably saw off the Scarlets in an entertaining West Wales derby with a 20 -6 win.Full match report to follow ...

The Ospreys narrowed the gap on Magners League leaders Munster by securing a 20-6 victory over the Scarlets at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

The scrum-half, who had surgery on his knee ligaments in March, crossed on the hour mark for what turned out to be the winning score after the home side had trailed 6-3 at half-time.

A second try for captain Ryan Jones five minutes into injury time denied the Scarlets a losing bonus point.

But though Phillips started, the Ospreys were without Shane Williams, sidelined with a shoulder problem.

The Scarlets opened the scoring in the third minute with a Rhys Priestland penalty after the Ospreys had erred offside.

The Scarlets doubled their lead seven minutes later with a second Priestland penalty from in front of the posts after referee Nigel Owens had to warn home lock Jonathan Thomas after tempers were lost.

The Ospreys also spurned the best try-scoring chance when Gavin Henson broke through up the left and on 30 minutes James Hook was off-target with a penalty goal shot from 30 metres away.

But five minutes later Hook found his range planting a penalty after Mark Jones and Regan King had collided trying to collect a Priestland cross-kick.

The Scarlets and Ospreys both suffered setbacks when Morgan Stoddart and Ryan Jones were both yellow-carded for not releasing the ball on the floor on 29 and 32 minutes respectively.

In first-half injury time Hook spurned a chance to level the scores, missing a penalty from close to his halfway line.

Seven minutes into the second half blood replacement Marty Holah crossed the line but the score was ruled out for a knock-on from Hook.

But on the hour mark the try stalemate was broken when Phillips skipped past two would-be tacklers to slide in by the posts for a converted try to give the Ospreys a 10-6 lead.

As the match entered its last 10 minutes Hook planted his second penalty to extend the Ospreys' advantage.

And at the death Ryan Jones went in under the posts for the second converted try and Richard Hibbard deservedly named Man of the Match.

The scorers:

For Ospreys:
Tries: Phillips, R Jones
Cons: Hook 2
Pens: Hook 2

For Scarlets:
Tries:
Cons:
Pens: Priestlend 2

  

Ospreys 20 - 6 The Scarlets Attendance: Referee : Nigel Owens (Wales) , Assistant Referee : Nigel Whitehouse (Wales) , Assistant Referee : Alan Jenkins (Wales) , TV Match Official : Derek Bevan (Wales) Kick Off: 27 December 2008 17:30 Venue: The Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Team Sheets
Pos. Player 1 Paul James 2 Richard Hibbard 3 Adam Jones 4 Alun-Wyn Jones 5 Jonathan Thomas 6 Ryan Jones Capt. 7 Steve Tandy 8 Filo Tiatia 9 Mike Phillips 10 James Hook 11 Jonny Vaughton 12 Gavin Henson 13 Sonny Parker 14 Tommy Bowe 15 Lee Byrne 16 Ed Shervington 17 Cai Griffiths 18 Ian Gough 19 Marty Holah 20 Jamie Nutbrown 21 Daniel Biggar 22 Andrew Bishop	Pos. Player 1 Phil John 2 Mahonri Schwalger 3 Deacon Manu 4 Lou Reed 5 Simon Maling 6 Vernon Cooper Capt. 7 Johnathan Edwards 8 David Lyons 9 Martin Roberts 10 Rhys Priestland 11 Mark Jones 12 Jonathan Davies 13 Regan King 14 Gareth Morris 15 Morgan Stoddart 16 Craig Cross 17 Ken Owens 18 Dominic Day 19 Josh Turnbull 20 Gavin Cattle 21 Dafydd Jones 22 Ceiron Thomas
Substitutions
Player On Player Off Time Half Marty Holah Steve Tandy 5 2 Steve Tandy Marty Holah 7 2 Marty Holah Steve Tandy 13 2 Jamie Nutbrown Mike Phillips 31 2	Player On Player Off Time Half Dafydd Jones Lou Reed 0 2 Dominic Day Vernon Cooper 7 2 Ken Owens Mahonri Schwalger 11 2 Josh Turnbull Johnathan Edwards 14 2 Craig Cross Deacon Manu 18 2 Johnathan Edwards Josh Turnbull 25 2 Josh Turnbull Simon Maling 35 2
Score Sheets
Scorer Type Time Half James Hook Pen 23 1 Mike Phillips Try 15 2 James Hook Con 16 2 James Hook Pen 27 2 Ryan Jones Try 38 2 James Hook Con 39 2	Scorer Type Time Half Rhys Priestland Pen 2 1 Rhys Priestland Pen 9 1
Cards
Player Card Time Half Ryan Jones Yellow 29 1	Player Card Time Half Morgan Stoddart Yellow 26 1
HTML Match Summary
Ospreys v The Scarlets (The Liberty Stadium, Swansea) - 27 December 2008 SCORING SEQUENCE 2 mins: Rhys Priestland Penalty 0-3; 9 mins: Rhys Priestland Penalty 0-6; 23 mins: James Hook Penalty 3-6; Half Time 55 mins: Mike Phillips Try 8-6; 56 mins: James Hook Conversion 10-6; 67 mins: James Hook Penalty 13-6; 78 mins: Ryan Jones Try 18-6; 79 mins: James Hook Conversion 20-6 OSPREYS Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Ryan Jones (c), Steve Tandy, Filo Tiatia, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Jonny Vaughton, Gavin Henson, Sonny Parker, Tommy Bowe, Lee Byrne Replacements: Marty Holah for Steve Tandy (45), Steve Tandy for Marty Holah (47), Marty Holah for Steve Tandy (53), Jamie Nutbrown for Mike Phillips (71) Try: Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones Con: James Hook (2) Pen: James Hook (2) Cards: 29: Ryan Jones - Yellow THE SCARLETS Phil John, Mahonri Schwalger, Deacon Manu, Lou Reed, Simon Maling, Vernon Cooper (c), Johnathan Edwards, David Lyons, Martin Roberts, Rhys Priestland, Mark Jones, Jonathan Davies, Regan King, Gareth Morris, Morgan Stoddart Replacements: Dafydd Jones for Lou Reed (40), Dominic Day for Vernon Cooper (47), Ken Owens for Mahonri Schwalger (51), Josh Turnbull for Johnathan Edwards (54), Craig Cross for Deacon Manu (58), Johnathan Edwards for Josh Turnbull (65), Josh Turnbull for Simon Maling (75) Pen: Rhys Priestland (2) Cards: 26: Morgan Stoddart - Yellow Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)