The home side scored two tries through Aisea Natoga and Dan Lydiate although the flanker’s effort was hugely debatable as at no stage was the ball in view when the Ospreys pack drove over the Scarlets try-line.
Replacement fly half Steve Shingler kept the Scarlets in the game with his boot after Rhys Priestland trudged off after only 16 minutes, having earlier put his side in front with an early penalty.
It was a typical derby encounter with plenty of blood and thunder with Scarlets winger Kristian Phillips receiving a yellow card for upending Ospreys full back Dan Evans in the early stages of the first half.
Dan Biggar put the Ospreys back on level terms with a short range penalty before Shingler put the Scarlets back in front with a well struck penalty.
Tyler Ardron had appeared to have scored the first try of the match when sliding over but TMO Derek Bevan ruled no try as Liam Williams had got back in the nick of time after seeing his clearance kick charged down.
However the home side didn’t have to wait long as Aisea Natoga scored after Hanno Dirksen burst clear to breach the Scarlets defence. Hadleigh Parkes did enough to stop the winger but the South African flipped the ball up to the supporting winger who slid over. With Biggar’s conversion the Ospreys had shot to a 10-6 lead.
A forwards surge saw Lydiate powered over from the back of a rolling maul. Biggar’s conversion put clear daylight between the two teams as the Scarlets suddenly found themselves 17-6 behind.
The Scarlets increased the intensity in the second half where the front row of Rob Evans, Emyr Phillips and Samson Lee were immense. Shingler reduced the arrears further with two penalties to edge the Scarlets back into the match with 23mins remaining.
The Scarlets began to dominate possession but despite clear dominance in the scrums they couldn’t make it pay. Shingler brought his side to within two points with another successful penalty and with 15mins remaining it was anyone’s game.
However the home side did enough to deny the Scarlets from scoring again as they head in to the New Year top of the table.
