Jac Morgan’s 75th-minute try in the end proved to be the decisive moment after a game of two halves saw Ospreys run out victorious against their Llanelli-based rivals in Bridgend.
But ultimately, it would be an error-strewn match played with intense emotion, where ill-discipline crept into play to dictate the back-and-forth nature of the contest.
Ospreys led 17-5 at the break through Wales fly-half Dan Edwards’ double, but Scarlets, who had previously replied with a Max Douglas score, had centre Joe Roberts and prop Kemsley Mathias sin-binned in the first half.
Davies’ side came storming back to lead 20-17 going into the closing stages after Wales duo Taine Plumtree and Blair Murray had dotted down, before departing Morgan’s score inflicted the latest end-of-game anguish on the West Wallians, reeling from a series of narrow losses in the URC.
The Scarlets boss praised his players for the comeback, but felt they were hard done by the officiating of the contest, specifically outlining an incident after 66 minutes when scrum-half Dane Blacker was brought down five metres out by South African Evardi Boshoff.
“There was a key moment where we attacked and got right under the posts, for me that was a clear penalty and a yellow card because the guy didn’t get up off his feet,” said Davies post-match.
“We were not getting those decisions, and it was such a key moment.
“It was hugely frustrating, and I can’t ask for any more from the players. We played a lot of rugby and squandered a couple of chances.
“The penalty count was astounding – 21 to 4. We target 10 or fewer, and I am not frustrated at my players because they played really well and went at it.
“We have to control what we can control. First half, the penalty count was probably fair enough because we were under a bit of pressure in the scrum, but we turned that around in the second half.
“We were probably slightly on top in the scrum but were not getting the calls.
“In a derby game where every breakdown is contested fiercely, to have that sort of penalty count is unheard of.”
Scarlets will now look to bounce back against Dragons next weekend, with both sides seeking victory to avoid being the lowest positioned Welsh region.
“They gave everything that they had, and unfortunately didn’t get their just rewards,” continued Davies.
“We are showing the type of rugby and the game that we want to play, and are getting to be a little bit more difficult to beat. We can take a lot of that into the next game and into next season.”
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
