Revenge was sweet for the Ospreys as they comfortably overturned their mauling by the Scarlets in Llanelli a week earlier to win 36-14 in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 and set up a home quarter final this weekend against Lyon.
With 10 changes to the side that were beaten 38-22 at Parc y Scarlets the Ospreys totally dominated the first half and ne er looked back after leading 26-7 at the break. They enjoyed 70% possession and territory in the opening 40 minutes and forced the Scarlets to make more than 110 tackles.
On top of that they managed to turn their pressure into points, scoring four first half tries and then two more after the break. Man of the Match Dan Edwards added three conversions to complete the job.
The Ospreys had got off to a fast start at Parc y Scarlets, racing into a 17-point lead in the first 16 minutes, and it took them less than two minutes to open the scoring. Jac Morgan raced down the left wing and eventually Adam Beard barged his way over.
Then Morgan rounded off a thrilling moved started by Edwards with a low pick up on his own 10 metre line. The outside half broke clean through the Scarlets defence, raced up to within 10 metres of the line and Morgan Morris and Jack Walsh combined to send their skipper over.
Edwards converted the first to make it 12-0 in the opening five minutes before the Scarlets hit back. Enjoying some rare possession, they used Macs Page to cut the line and his inside pass allowed Blair Murray to race in for a try that Ioan Lloyd improved.
EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Final Draw
Saturday 12 April
QF 3: Edinburgh Rugby (3) v Vodacom Bulls (11) – Hive Stadium (12.30pm)
QF 4: Ospreys (4) v Lyon (5) – Swansea.com Stadium (5.30pm)
QF 1: Connacht Rugby (1) v Racing 92 (9) – Dexcom Stadium (8.00pm)Sunday 13 April
QF 2: Bath Rugby (10) v Gloucester Rugby (15) – The Recreation Ground (5.30pm)Semi-Finals – 2/3/4/ May
SF 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 4
SF 2: winner QF 2 v winner QF 3NB The matches will be played in Europe and the highest-ranked clubs from the pool stage will have home venue advantage
But any thoughts of a revival from the visitors were soon squashed as lock Rhys Davies and hooker Dewi Lake powered over for tries that Edwards again converted to take the lead up to 19 points by half-time.
The Scarlets started the second half with more bite and purpose and replacement hooker Marnus van der Merwe was held up over the line four minutes after the re-start. Tries on either flank from Walsh and Dan Kasende then made it 36-7 just past the hour mark and then was no coming back from there for the Scarlets.
Eddie James did grab a consolation try at the posts from a five metre penalty move eight minutes from time, Lloyd added the extras, but it was far too little, much too late.
SCORERS
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.TEAMS
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (captain), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris
Reps: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, James Fender, Morgan Morse, Luke Davies, Owen Williams, Iestyn HopkinsScarlets: Blair Murray; Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Jac Price, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (captain), Taine Plumtree
Reps: Marnus van der Merwe, Sam O’Connor, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Nicholas, Dan DavisReferee: Matt Carley (England)