James the unlikely Ospreys hero
Two tries from prop Paul James proved decisive as the Ospreys made it four wins in-a-row in all competitions with a 21-14 Magners League and Boxing Day Derby win over the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday.
Man-of-the-Match James scored in each half to condemn the home team to their seventh defeat in nine outings, but the Llanelli-based side did take something from the game, with flanker Johnathan Edwards’s late converted try securing a losing bonus point.
The Scarlets enjoyed territorial advantage in the first half and they deserved to go in at the interval with a 9-7 lead in front of 14,800 spectators – the first capacity crowd at the new Parc y Scarlets.
It was, as one would expect, a typical Boxing Day Derby with no quarter given – and a lack of Christmas friendship, with tempers often overflowing – but the cards stayed in experienced referee Nigel Owen’s pocket throughout.
While the Scarlets had the bulk of possession, they found it hard to break down the Ospreys defence as star forwards Alun-Wyn Jones, Jerry Collins and Ian Gough – the latter in his 50th match for the Ospreys – put in some big hits.
The Scarlets opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a penalty goal for Stephen Jones after new short-term Ospreys signing Ricky Januarie – the Springbok No.9, of course on loan from the Stormers – was caught in possession.
The Ospreys had a chance to level matters with their own penalty attempt but Dan Biggar was wide of the target – his first miss in 19 attempts in the Ospreys’ last three matches.
But it mattered little for the Ospreys, who scored from their first serious attack. First B&I Lions star Tommy Bowe and Biggar made good ground and, from a loose ball at the subsequent lineout, experienced front rower James went over unopposed for his first try.
The Scarlets responded well at the end of the first half. Rhys Priestland put over a penalty from the halfway line and, in injury-time, the talismanic Jones gave his side a two-point lead at the break with his second penalty.
But the Ospreys produced a key moment three minutes into the second half when loosehead prop James, taking up a position on the right wing, went over for his second and the most important try of the game.
The Ospreys, boosted by the introduction of fit-again fullback Lee Byrne – who came on for his first appearance for two months – opened up an 18-9 lead with two Biggar penalty goals in the space of five minutes.
Biggar missed his first attempt but he was allowed to retake it, 10 metres closer to the posts, because Scarlets scrumhalf Martin Roberts put him off.
The Scarlets twice threatened the Ospreys line with concerted attacks, but five minutes from time Biggar landed his third penalty to take the visitors’ tally to 21 points. Edwards’s consolation try came from the final play of the game.
The scorers:
For the Scarlets:
Try: Edwards
Pens: S Jones 2, Priestland
For the Ospreys:
Tries: P James 2
Con: Biggar
Pens: Biggar 3
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Morgan Stoddart, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons (captain), 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Lou Reed, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Corsi, 17 Emyr Phillips, 18 Vernon Cooper, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Lee Williams, 21 Daniel Evans, 22 Gareth Maule.
Ospreys: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 James Hook, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Adam Jones, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Jonathan Thomas, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Sonny Parker, 22 Lee Byrne.
Referee: Nigel Owens
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris, Nigel Whitehouse
Television match official: Derek Bevan
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