Ospreys (9) 12
Pens: Hook (4)

Tries from Gavin Thomas and Nathan Brew helped Llanelli Scarlets edge a lively west Wales derby at Stradey Park.

The 17-12 win ensured the Scarlets keep up the pressure on leaders Leinster but left champions Ospreys with just two wins in eight games.

James Hook kicked all of the points for the visitors as they went in front at the break.

But the home side made the most of two mistakes early in the second half to secure the win.

The Ospreys suffered the worst possible start when scrum-half Mike Phillips was yellow-carded after just 90 seconds for tripping up wing Mark Jones.

Stephen Jones sent the resulting penalty against the post but the Scarlets kept the visitors camped in their own half for much of the time they were down to 14 men.

Nathan Brew came closest in the opening exchanges after being released down the right from a turnover, only to be tackled well by back row Ben Lewis.

But against the run of play, it was the Ospreys who took the lead on 13 minutes through a penalty from Hook in front of the post.

That lead lasted just three minutes, though, as Gavin Thomas - one of five Scarlets changes - in for the injured James Bater, scored the game's first try.

It came from a Scarlets penalty which was put into the corner and from the resulting line-out Thomas was able to drive through and home. Stephen Jones made it 7-3 with his conversion.

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The home side tried to increase their lead but could not make the most of their superior possession and break down a resolute Ospreys defence.

And they were made to pay after 30 minutes, giving away a penalty for failing to move away from the tackle during a rare Ospreys attack, leaving Hook to successfully kick.

That score spurred on the visitors who finished the half in the lead as the Scarlets were penalised again for failing to move away from the tackle area with lock Vernon Cooper sin-binned.

Stephen Jones put the Scarlets back in front after the break with a penalty after Ian Gough came in from the side.

And that lead was extended within a minute when Jonathan Thomas lost possession and Nathan Brew raced through to score, with Jones making it an eight-point lead.

Hook reduced the deficit on 54 minutes when Dwayne Peel tackled Phillips without the ball.

Once again, the score got the Ospreys going and they the held Scarlets on their try line with Alun Wyn Jones and Andrew Bishop coming close to crossing.

But they could not find a way through as the home side held on.

Scarlets: Stoddart, James, King, G. Evans, M. Jones, S. Jones, Peel, I. Thomas, Rees, Douglas, Cooper, MacLeod, Easterby, G. Thomas, Popham.
Replacements: Brew for G. Evans (21), C. Thomas for S. Jones (80), Manu for Douglas (69), Eustace for MacLeod (69), D. Jones for Popham (31).
Not Used: Hayter, L. Davies.

Ospreys: Byrne, Walker, Taylor, A. Bishop, Brew, Hook, Phillips, D. Jones, Hibbard, A. Jones, Gough, Wyn-Jones, Thomas, Lewis, R. Jones.
Replacements: Connor for Byrne (79), Vaughton for Brew (66), Marshall for Phillips (66), Bennett for Hibbard (54), Griffiths for A. Jones (78), Bateman for Gough (78), Smith for Thomas (78).

Att: 10,739

Referee: N Owens (WRU).