It would be the fourth time this season that the West Wallians had failed to get over the line by losing by a couple of points after equally frustrating outcomes against Connacht, Glasgow and in Europe at Bayonne, but this one Peel says hurt the most.
In a clinical first half the Scarlets would deserve their 19-8 lead with execution on point as Ioan Lloyd kicked 14 points and with Ellis Mee scoring his first try for the region.
Peel’s side’s execution, however, would falter as the Ospreys stayed in touch with scores from hooker Sam Parry and flanker Justin Tipuric keeping the scoreboard close, whilst a series of missed kicks from the boot of Lloyd proved to be one of the turning points of the contest.
A pair of yellow cards, one from Sam Lousi who had been excellent both in defence and launching the Scarlets attack, and later Ioan Nicholas though would be the decisive factors of the outcome.
The Ospreys late score from Iestyn Hopkins would run in on Nicholas’ wing to cap a remarkable turnaround for the home side and a frustrating moment for the Scarlets boss who would rue a missed opportunity for a first victory over their bitter rivals in Swansea since 2017.
“We are bitterly disappointed. We came here well prepared, and I felt at half-time we deserved our commanding lead,” said Peel post-match.
“Ultimately, the game was there for the taking and we didn’t finish it off, it is the most disappointing loss of the season.
“Slowly but surely, we let momentum slip in that second half through some inaccuracy and lack of discipline, with two yellow cards not helping.
“There have been games this year that we have lost late on, and it has been a toss of a coin, that was one we let slip.
“We were in command at half-time and slowly let them back into it. We didn’t execute in the second half as well as we could have.
“In the first-half, we played with tempo and were clinical, but in the second-half we lacked accuracy, we lost momentum, the game went slower, and we played the game we didn’t want to – we were also down to 14 men for 15 minutes of that half.
“The boys are gutted more than any loss this season because it was a game we should have sewn up. It was a game we probably let slip rather than them winning it.
“We spoke in the changing room afterwards, we have to move on, we will have time away, spend time with our families over Christmas and when we come back, we know we have a job to do on New Year’s Day.”
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
