Ospreys beat Scarlets in Swansea try-fest

REPORT: The Ospreys kept their Champions Cup qualification hopes alive with a thrilling 54-36 victory over the Scarlets in Swansea.

Nicky Smith, Morgan Morris, Keelan Giles, Dewi Lake (2), Michael Collins, Owen Watkin and Sam Parry touched down and Gareth Anscombe kicked 14 points, with the Ospreys piling on 40 points in the second half.

Ryan Conbeer was unfortunate to be on the losing side after running in a hat-trick for the visitors, with Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy also going over.

The Ospreys are now five points behind the Scarlets with a game in hand, with the winners of the Welsh Shield qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup.

The remaining play-off hopes of both sides rest on the outcome of the match between Edinburgh and Ulster later on Saturday.

Toby Booth’s side drew first blood when Anscombe sent Alex Cuthbert through a hole. Cuthbert was brought down, but the ball was recycled with Smith powering over from close range for a try which Anscombe converted.

The Scarlets hit back with a well-crafted try of their own. Sam Costelow was playing so flat he sent dynamic Argentinian openside Tomas Lezana charging towards the Ospreys 22. Lezana found Davies on his shoulder, who touched down for the try.

The Scarlets were full of confidence and when the ball found its way into Conbeer’s hands he brushed aside Mat Protheroe with ease before running in unopposed from 45 metres out. Costelow converted from the touchline, but the Ospreys responded when Giles raced up the touchline.

The wing was stopped short, but the Ospreys had enough momentum to exploit the Scarlets defence, with number eight Morris showing his power to force his way over the line.

A well-timed pass from Costelow put Conbeer over for an easy finish meaning the Scarlets held a 24-14 lead at the interval.

The Ospreys came out firing in the second half, with Anscombe slicing through the visiting defence. The Scarlets were at sixes and sevens in defence and Anscombe’s pass sent Giles over for a try.

This was end to end stuff, with the Scarlets temporarily reduced to 14 men when wing Corey Baldwin got sent to the sin bin for intentionally slapping the ball down as Giles attempted to offload after another electric break.

The Ospreys, who also welcomed George North back from injury off the bench, made the most of their numerical advantage, with Lake scoring two tries in the space of five minutes courtesy of the home side’s driving line-out.

Giles sparked the Ospreys’ next try with a sensational 75-metre break before finding Collins for the try.

Watkin was next on the scoreboard as he charged over from close range, but Hardy claimed one back for the Scarlets.

Conbeer showed his strength to brush off three defenders for his hat-trick, before Parry capped the victory for the Ospreys with their eighth try.

Player of the match

Wales hooker Dewi Lake put his side on the front foot with his powerful carrying, while he also scored two tries.

Play of the match

A sensational 70-metre break from Giles into the Scarlets 22, along with a superb offload to Collins, was a contender for try of the season.

The scorers:

For Ospreys:
Tries: Smith, Morris, Giles, Lake 2, Collins, Watkin, Parry
Cons: Anscombe 7

For Scarlets:
Tries: Davies, Conbeer 3, Hardy,
Cons: Costelow 3, Patchell
Pen: Costelow

Teams:

Ospreys: 15 Mat Protheroe, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Rhys Webb (captain), 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Will Griffiths, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas,
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Ethan Roots, 21 Reuben Morgan Williams, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 George North

Scarlets: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Corey Baldwin, 13 Jonathan Davies (captain), 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Josh Macleod, 5 Jac Price, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Javan Sebastian, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Steff Thomas,
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Rob Evans, 18 WillGriff John,19 Morgan Jones, 20 Aaron Shingler, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Steff Evans

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales) & Rhys Jones (Wales)
TMO: Wayne Davies (Wales)