Scarlets 14 - 21 Ospreys: Ospreys soar thanks to James' try double

Published on Saturday 26 December 2009 20:14

PROP Paul James scored both his side's tries as he helped the Ospreys to victory in a hard-fought west Wales derby.

Man of the match James scored in each half to condemn the hosts to their seventh defeat from nine outings and take the Ospreys above Glasgow and Edinburgh, ahead of today's Scottish derby at Firhill.

But the Scarlets – in front the first 14,800 capacity crowd at their new ground – did sneak a losing bonus point at the death with flanker Johnathan Edwards going over.

The Scarlets enjoyed territorial advantage in the first half and deserved to go in at the interval with a 9-7 lead.

They opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a penalty from Stephen Jones after Ricky Januarie was caught in possession.

The Ospreys, though, scored from their first genuine attack. First Tommy Bowe and Dan Biggar made good ground and, from a loose ball at the subsequent line-out, James went over unopposed for his first try. The Scarlets responded well at the end of the first half. First Rhys Priestland put over a penalty and, in injury time, Stephen Jones gave his side a two-point lead with his second penalty.

But the Ospreys produced a key moment three minutes into the second half when James went over for the second and crucial try.

The Ospreys opened up an 18-9 lead with two Biggar penalty goals in the space of five minutes – the first of which he missed but was allowed to retake 10 metres closer to the posts because Martin Roberts put him off.

The Scarlets twice threatened the Ospreys line with attacks, but five minutes from time Biggar planted a third penalty. Edwards' consolation try came from the final play of the game.