Scarlets whitewash Ospreys
PRO14 REPORT: Ryan Conbeer and Steff Evans both scored twice as Scarlets ran in six tries without reply against an injury-hit Ospreys at Parc Y Scarlets.
In a thoroughly dominant showing the home side hit their straps immediately and never looked back with Kieran Hardy and Josh Macleod also crossing over in a 44-0 win.
The result, Scarlets’ sixth win of the campaign, moves them back to fourth place in Conference B and was an instant response after their agonising defeat to Cardiff Blues in Round 8.
Ospreys, missing a whole host of players to injury, remain on only one win and sixth in Conference A.
Key moments
Scarlets started lively in the second of the day’s Welsh derbies, Evans making a lively break on the outside without scoring.
Blade Thomson and Sam Lousi then combined beautifully without reward as the hosts dominated the opening exchanges with the majority of the possession and territory.
After a slick line-out move from Ken Owens and Conbeer came close to resulting in the first try of the match, Leigh Halfpenny then slotted a penalty over with ease to give Scarlets the lead.
With 25 minutes on the board the hosts dominance resulted in their first try, Evans crossing after Angus O’Brien and Aaron Shingler combined in a flowing passing move before releasing the wing to score.
Halfpenny then added three more points after another Ospreys infringement before Scarlets made it 20-0 at half-time when Conbeer brilliantly took O’Brien’s stellar cross-field kick to dot down.
Ospreys pushed for their first score early in the second half but an attack inside the Scarlets 22 came to nothing when a penalty was awarded to the hosts.
Things got worse for the visitors as they lost Luke Morgan in the 52nd minute, the Ospreys wing sin-binned for a high tackle on a rampaging Conbeer, who had looked like breaking through for his second try.
But Conbeer did get his second try minutes later when great hands across the board eventually provided the Welshman with the opportunity to dive over.
Scarlets had their bonus point when Evans also doubled up, scoring out wide, before more brilliant work from O’Brien and Conbeer set Hardy up on the blindside to add a fifth try.
There was still time for more yet as Macleod crossed the whitewash to take his side over the 40-point mark without response.
Ospreys pushed in the dying minutes to avoid ending the match pointless and Scarlets saw both Jake Ball and Werner Kruger sin-binned in a frantic finish but the hosts held on to maintain a perfect defensive performance.
Man of the match
Two men may have crossed twice for Scarlets but O’Brien absolutely ran the show for the hosts.
The flyhalf pulled the strings in impressive fashion, splitting Ospreys open at will while also making 40 metres in the contest.
Play of the day
Scarlets were unstoppable today and their first try was a thing of sheer beauty.
The home side combined with a selection of quick offloads which made for great viewing before Evans did the rest to cross over and begin the onslaught.
The scorers
For Scarlets:
Tries: Evans 2, Conbeer 2, Hardy, Macleod
Cons: Halfpenny 3, O’Brien
Pens: Halfpenny 2
Ospreys
None
Yellow cards: Jake Ball (Scarlets, 79), Werner Kruger (Scarlets, 80), Luke Morgan (Ospreys, 52)
The teams:
Scarlets: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Ryan Conbeer, 13 Steff Hughes, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Josh Macleod, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Phil Price, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Tevita Ratuva, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Paul Asquith.
Ospreys: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Lesley Klim, 13 Kieran Williams, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric (captain), 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Bradley Davies, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Scott Otten, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Rhys Fawcett, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Marvin Orie, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Luke Price, 23 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler.
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Dan Jones, Wayne Davies (both Wales)
TMO: Jon Mason (Wales)
Report by @PRO14Official
