Both sides scored one try apiece but the 17 points banged over by Rhys Priestland’s trusty right boot proved decisive in a real ding dong encounter as the Ospreys failed to move to the top of the table after failing to get anything from the game.
Rhys Thomas barrelled his way over in the first half from a rumble close to the line in the 31st minute. Priestland’s conversion and three penalties gave the Scarlets a 16-3 lead at the break after Dan Biggar knocked over a penalty for the Ospreys.
In the first half the Ospreys were content to kick the vast majority of their possession away but in the second spell they altered their game plan with alarming effect.
Two Biggar penalties pegged back the Scarlets lead before Barry Davies brought the scoreline to within two points when he dived over in the corner against his former team. Biggar failed to make the difficult conversion but suddenly the Ospreys sniffed an opportunity to steal the game.
But two further Priestland penalties edged the home side to safety in a tense finish.
Ospreys prop Adam Jones left the field late on with a neck injury to give Wales head coach Warren Gatland some cause for concern with the Six Nations rapidly approaching.
