Pro14: Scarlets 20-17 Ospreys

Rhys Patchell returned to the pitch after a blow to the head to score Scarlets' second try

Scarlets claimed derby bragging rights with a narrow 20-17 Pro14 victory over Ospreys in Llanelli.

Johnny McNicholl opened the scoring for the hosts, before Ospreys responded with two quick tries from Cory Allen and George North.

Rhys Patchell's second half try for Scarlets was cancelled out by Luke Morgan, but Leigh Halfpenny's 10 points proved enough for the win.

Scarlets are now unbeaten at home in the league since September 2016.

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Wing McNicholl got the first blood of the afternoon and arguably against the run of play.

Kieron Fonotia, who gave a man of the match performance against his former region, broke the gain line before passing inside to support player McNicholl.

He was strong enough to shrug off the last man in defence before Halfpenny added the conversion.

Wing Luke Morgan scored Ospreys' third try at Parc y Scarlets

Ospreys wing Morgan, who looked lively all afternoon, came agonisingly close to a score of his own, but was stopped a couple of feet short by a try-saving tackle from Patchell.

The visitors did find the whitewash just before the half hour mark after a penetrating run from centre Allen, with Sam Davies adding the extras.

Minutes later former Scarlet North made a break along the far touchline and despite the ball-ripping efforts of his opposite number Tom Prydie and a lengthy deliberation by TMO Tim Hayes, the try was eventually awarded.

A groggy looking Patchell was taken off for a head injury assessment shortly after, while Halfpenny slotted over a penalty to narrow the Ospreys lead to just two points going into half-time.

Fly-half Patchell returned after the break, but Ospreys flanker Sam Cross was replaced by Olly Cracknell after failing to shake off a knock he picked up in the first half.

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny scored 10 points with his boot in Scarlets' win

Another Halfpenny penalty saw Scarlets regain the lead into the second half and the momentum, but crowd calls for Ospreys' Morgan to see yellow for a knock-on during a promising Scarlets attack fell on deaf ears.

Scarlets continued to press and Patchell showed no signs of a knock to the head as he skipped his way through the defence for a try. Halfpenny's boot was again on target for the extra two points.

That score was shortly cancelled out by Morgan, who showed his pace to touch down in the corner after a break from his skipper Justin Tipuric.

Davies missed the difficult conversion which would have brought his side to within a point.

Scarlets had the lion's share of possession and territory in the final 10, but were not clinical enough to put the game to bed.

It made for a tense finish, but it was Scarlets again who were on the winning side of a tight scoreline.

Ospreys head coach Allen Clarke said his side paid the price for conceding 14 penalties to Scarlets' three and what he called tough decisions against his side.

"I thought they were tough calls... and I can show examples of that," Clarke said.

"We need to look at our own discipline, but with momentum and responding to the crowd it's very easy to get sucked in. Any rugby purist will look at some of those decisions and go really?

"Nigel Owens was receiving information from guys either side of the field who probably have never been in a scrum or a maul.

"I sympathise with Nigel to a degree. He is a brilliant referee and I was delighted when he was getting this game.

"I am just concerned about the interpretation and feedback he was getting from the edge."

Clarke credited the Scarlets on their win and added he was pleased with Luke Morgan's performance.

Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac said Ospreys were lucky not to see two yellow cards, including one for Morgan's knock on.

"We had a lot of penalties in their 22... and on another day could have resulted in cards, possibly," he said.

"I just had a chat with Allen, I expressed the fact that I thought they were very lucky not to give away a couple of yellows.

"Everyone sees it the way they see it," he added.

"From our point of view you have one of the best referees in the world in the middle of the park and he referees it how he sees it.

"We are happy to get the result. After last week, it was a massive step up."

Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny; Tom Prydie, Kieron Fonotia, Hadleigh Parkes, Johnny McNicholl; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens (capt), Samson Lee, Jake Ball, David Bulbring, Ed Kennedy, Will Boyde, Blade Thomson

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Phil Price, Werner Kruger, Tom Price, Josh Macleod, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Angus O'Brien, Paul Asquith

Ospreys: James Hook; George North, Cory Allen, Owen Watkin, Luke Morgan; Sam Davies, Aled Davies; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Ma'afu Fia, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Cross, Justin Tipuric (capt), James King

Replacements: Scott Otten, Rhodri Jones, Tom Botha, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Matthew Aubrey, Joe Thomas, Hanno Dirksen

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Assistant referees: Adam Jones, Simon Rees (WRU)

TMO: Tim Hayes (WRU)

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