Scarlets bowed out of this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, beaten 36-14 by the Ospreys at a sun-kissed Swansea.com Stadium.
Having got one over on their arch rivals the previous week, the West Walians were second best against a fired-up home side, who dominated from the opening minute.
Scarlets managed a try from full-back Blair Murray, but they were unable to get their game going against a physical home defence, who made a menace of the breakdown area.
Just like eight days earlier, the Ospreys shot out of the blocks with two quickfire tries.
Within two minutes, lock Adam Beard was over following a blindside burst from Jac Morgan. The Wales captain then went from provider to scorer, finishing off after player-of-the-match Dan Edwards had sliced open the Scarlets defence from a charge down.
Stung into action, the Scarlets, as they had done the previous week, hit back with a brilliantly-crafted try by Murray.
Macs Page made the incision, cutting open the Ospreys defence before feeding the Wales international on his inside for a free run to the posts. Lloyd landed the conversion from bang in front.
But the half belonged to the home side, who had dominated possession and territory.
It needed some resolute defence to deny prop Gareth Thomas from close range, but the wave of Ospreys attacks eventually led to a third try, scored by second row Rhys Davies.
Scarlets had an opportunity from a close-range line-out, only for the ball to be stolen within sight of the whitewash and on the stroke of half-time hooker Dewi Lake touched down on the back of a powerful driving line-out for his side’s fourth try. Edwards’s conversion made it 26-7 at the break.
Scarlets desperately needed a strong start to the second period and they got that, only for Marnus van der Merwe – one of three half-time replacements up front – to be held up over the line.
But it was the Ospreys fans who were celebrating again when full-back Jack Walsh evaded a couple of defenders to score down the touchline on 53 minutes.
Wing Daniel Kasende latched onto a long pass for the Ospreys’ sixth try, but the Scarlets kept looking to play and managed a consolation try when Eddie James touched down at the posts following a smart tap penalty move.
Scarlets will now turn their attention to the final four rounds of the BKT URC, starting against the Dragons a week on Saturday on Judgement Day.
Ospreys – tries: A. Beard, J. Morgan, R. Davies, D. Lake, J. Walsh, D. Kasende. Cons: D. Edwards (3).
Scarlets – tries: B. Murray, E. James. Cons: I. Lloyd (2)
Referee: Matt Carley (Eng)
Attendance: 9,057