Ospreys Survive Scarlet Fightback

The rain held off for the start of the game the last of the Christmas Domino's derbies in Wales at the Liberty Stadium, but a heavy wind was blowing inside the stadium, leading to difficult kicking conditions.  It was set be a test of Welsh international 10's kicking skill in the wet conditions, with a permanent place in the Welsh jersey still up for grabs.

Prop Duncan Jones made his 200th appearance for the Ospreys, the loose head was given a commemorative jersey before the game. The Ospreys were led out by Duncan Jones to huge crowd ovation.

The biggest crowd of the season so far for the Ospreys the 13,201 strong crowd were treated to a feast of flowing rugby. As is so often the case when Nigel Owens is the man in the middle it was an open game where skill was allowed to shine through.

The early proceedings were dominated by up and unders which which tested the swirling wind. Although there was a high amount of quality it wasn't until the 19th minute that the crowd saw the first points. Ashley Beck's try came after a lovely break by Rhys Webb, who passed inside to  Sam Davies in support who couldn't make it, but did lay it on a plate for Beck to dive over and poach a try from close range.

Rhys Webb who was named man of the match pulled all the strings for the Ospreys but was taken off on 53 minutes as a 'precaution' according to forwards coach Chris Gill.

With five minutes of the first half remaining Rhys Priestland finally got off the mark with a penalty to make it 7-3. The Llanelli Scarlet did not have the best of halves although in the second period there was a stark improvement.

As quickly as the Scarlets got a foothold in the game the Ospreys took it away. Biggar kicked for touch with a penalty to find 5 metres perfectly from the halfway with a gem of a kick. With the clock dead the Ospreys camped on Scarlets 5 metre line. A scruffy pass found its way into the hands of Sam Davies who shipped it on to Aisea Natoga who strolled over barely breaking into a sprint. Biggar converted to make it 14-3 at half time and the Scarlets looked rattled.

After the break it looked like more of the same as Biggar lined up his first penalty on 48 minutes, and dispatched it accurately. The Scarlets looked dead and buried but Priestland had found his kicking boots at half time and they plugged their way back into the game. An intense half an hour of almost exclusively Scarlet pressure bought the score to 17-12 with three more Priestland kicks. There was also a sin binning for try-scorer Aisea Natoga in this period for blocking the pass cynically on 66 minutes. They did claw their way back but the Scarlets will be wondering how they didn't finish off any of the numerous chances they created. The Ospreys stayed strong defensively and held out with the score finishing at 17-12.

The will be doubts now over Simon Easterby's future at the Scarlets who said in the press conference that "it was a game we should have won". The simple facts are however that they are not winning these games and Easterby's neck is certainly on the line.