Ospreys - 50 Llanelli Scarlets - 24:James Hook provided 23 points as the Ospreys cruised to an easy victory in a Magners Celtic League derby at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.
The Ospreys outhalf did not put a foot wrong in front of Wales coach Gareth Jenkins, who was denied a head-to-head duel at number 10 when his national team captain Stephen Jones pulled out three minutes before the start with a back injury.
Ospreys' five-tries-to-three win also provided them with a valuable bonus point and inflicted Scarlets' worst Celtic League defeat.
There was a typically frenetic opening to the tie as the hosts ran up a 10-0 lead after just six minutes. The capacity attendance of 20,500, a Celtic League record crowd for a match in Wales were brought to life with a Shane Williams break that produced the first of five Hook penalties.
Justin Marshall's kick-through saw Ryan Jones go in for the opening try and after 11 minutes Hook gave the Ospreys a 13-point lead with a second penalty conversion. But the Scarlets hit back almost immediately with a penalty try as Marshall was sent to the sinbin.
A Ceiron Thomas chip bounced awkwardly in the dead ball area and when Marshall slapped it into the crowd referee Nigel Owens had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.
The stunned 14-man Ospreys regrouped as Hook converted his third, fourth and fifth penalties in the space of 17 minutes.
Ceiron Jones pulled a penalty back but after eight minutes of the second half the Ospreys had extended their interval lead with a converted Nikki Walker try after a Marshall interception.
The Scarlets responded four minutes later when Dwayne Peel pounced to go over from five metres but it was a converted try cancelled out by Stradey Park old boy Lee Byrne, who breezed in from the 22 as the Ospreys led 36-17 after 55 minutes.
As the match reached its conclusion there was enough time for replacement lock Lyndon Bateman to go over for the fourth try and bonus point.
And in injury time replacement flanker Andy Lloyd crossed for the fifth try before Scarlets centre Gavin Evans grabbed a consolation at the end.
Scores: Ospreys: Tries: R Jones, Walker, Byrne, Bateman, Lloyd. Cons: Hook 4, Connor. Pens: Hook 5. Llanelli Scarlets: Tries: Penalty, Peel, G Evans. Cons: C Thomas 3. Pens: C Thomas.
OSPREYS: Byrne; Walker, Parker, Henson, S. Williams; Hook, Marshall; D Jones, B Williams, A Jones; Cockbain, A Jones; Tiatia, Tandy, R Jones. Replacements: Griffiths for D Jones, Bateman for Cockbain, Lloyd for Tiatia (all 65 mins), A Bishop for Henson, Spice for Marshall (both 68 mins), Shervington for B Williams (78 mins). Not used: Connor.
LLANELLI SCARLETS: B Davies; James, King, G Evans, M Jones; C Thomas, Peel; I Thomas, Rees, Dunlea; Afeaki, MacLeod: D Jones, G Thomas, Popham. Replacements: Cooper for MacLeod (21), Bater for Afeaki (40), Watkins for B Davies (49), Manu for Dunlea (56), Owen for Rees (80). Not used: Stuart-Smith, S Jones.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRFU).
