Ospreys 18  Llanelli 15:  Llanelli kept their Celtic League title hopes alive in dramatic fashion at St Helen's yesterday. Ospreys full back Gavin Henson missed with a long-range penalty with the last kick of the match which means the Scarlets face a title showdown against Ulster at Stradey Park on Friday.

The Scarlets claimed the game's first try. Outhalf Stephen Jones made the initial break and prop John Thiel was put in for an unconverted score.

A further period of Scarlets pressure yielded a long-range penalty from Jones. They then had to defend for the remainder of the half following the sin-binning of number eight Scott Quinnell, for a professional foul.

A Henson penalty made it 8-3, but with the last move of the half Llanelli replacement outhalf Gareth Bowen scored a fine try.

Bowen was on as a 37th-minute replacement, with the Wales number 10 receiving treatment for a cut head. He scythed through from 35 yards out and darted in under the posts for a try he converted himself.

Jones returned for the start of the second half and his second penalty increased Llanelli's advantage to 18-3 .

However Stefan Terblanche pounced on a loose Quinnell pass to intercept and race 80 metres.

Then Scarlets hooker Robin McBryde saw yellow for a punch and a clever chip by Henson saw Wales wing Shane Williams provide the punishment. Henson's missed conversion left the score at 18-15 .

NEATH-SWANSEA OSPREYS: Henson, Terblanche, Storey, Tiueti, S Williams, Connor, A Williams, D Jones, B Williams, Millward, Newman, J Thomas, Bater, Tandy, Lloyd. Tries: Terblanche, S. Williams. Cons: Henson. Pens: Henson.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: B Davies, Evans, Taylor, Watkins, Finau, S Jones, Peel, I Thomas, McBryde, Thiel, Cooper, Wyatt, Hodges, Easterby, Quinnell. Tries: Thiel, G. Bowen. Cons: G Bowen. Pens: S Jones 2.

Referee: G Davies (SRU).