Scarlets produced a stunning comeback victory, running in six tries, to overwhelm their arch rivals the Ospreys 38-22 in front of our biggest derby crowd in five years.
Trailing 17-0 in as many minutes, Dwayne Peel’s side scored 38 unanswered points to emerge convincing winners and put themselves back in the hunt in the URC play-off race.
It was a contest of fluctuating fortunes and emotions.
Scarlets endured a shocking opening quarter; gifting the visitors a couple of tries, but then found their mojo, drawing level by half-time and then pulling away at the start of the second half to the delight of a bumper crowd of 11,384.
Those fans were in fine voice as the sides ran out to the sound of Dafydd Iwan and Yma O Hyd – a goosebump moment at the Parc.
But that quickly turned into deafening silence following disastrous start for the home side who gifted the Ospreys the lead with less than a minute on the clock. First, they failed to deal with the kick-off, then spilled the ball on their own line, allowing Morgan Morris to claim the score.
Dan Edwards converted then added a penalty from straight in front and it got worse for the Scarlets when Ospreys full-back Iestyn Hopkins pounced on another backfield mistake.
Trailing 17-0, Scarlets desperately needed a spark and they finally found the ignition switch on 20 minutes.
A strong line-out drive was carried forward by the oustanding Sam Lousi and Fifita – on his 50th appearance. With the Ospreys struggling to fill the gaps, a looping Ioan Lloyd pass found Ellis Mee on the touchline and the winger fed fellow Wales international Blair Murray on his inside for the score.
As the half wore on, the Ospreys fell more and more on the wrong side of the officials and after hooker George McGuigan was shown yellow for another infringement, Scarlets claimed their second.
A powerful drive was halted illegally and referee Griffin Colby had no hesitation in heading to the uprights, eventually showing former Scarlet Kieran Hardy yellow.
With the visitors down to 13, Scarlets struck again on the stroke of half-time.
Some slick handling freed Macs Page wide out on the right and the winger drew the final defender before sending Fifita on a free run to the corner. Lloyd’s conversion attempt dropped short.
That made it 17-17 at the break, but the scoreboard operators were back at work four minutes after the restart when Joe Roberts send a pass out to loose-head prop Alec Hepburn who returned the favour by flicking the ball inside to Roberts for a run to the line. Lloyd made no mistake with the extras.
Scarlets had their fifth try five minutes later and it came in bizarre fashion – fitting in with the frantic nature of the game.
A Lousi charge down set up another attack, then Gareth Davies’s cross-field kick bounced off the head of Page, with Eddie James reacting quickest to gather and show good strength to score. Lloyd’s conversion pushed the score out further.
On the hour mark, the Scarlets were in dreamland with a sixth try. This time, Fifita turned provider with a scything break and after the Tongan international was held up just short of the whitewash, Taine Plumtree ploughed over from close range.
With experienced scrum-half Gareth Davies pulling the strings expertly in the closing exchanges, there was no threat of an Ospreys rearguard, although fly-half Edwards produced a moment of individual magic to claim a fine solo try after Josh Macleod had been sin-binned late on.
Scarlets – tries: B. Murray, pen try, V. Fifita, J. Roberts, E. James, T. Plumtree. Cons: I. Lloyd (3)
Ospreys – tries: M. Morris, I. Hopkins, D. Edwards. Cons: Edwards (2). Pen Edwards.
Referee: Griffin Colby (SA)
Attendance: 11,384