The final act of the Magners League clash at the Liberty Stadium game denied the brave Scarlets effort a losing bonus point from a contest which failed to live up to the pre-match billing but still managed to enthral.
The star-studded Ospreys dominated possession yet the Scarlets produced a committed performance which fully tested Ryan Jones’s side.
The lead changed hands eight times before Bowe’s second try of the match ensured an Ospreys victory which moved them to fourth place and into a play-off place in the Magners table.
It contrast Scarlets hopes of making next year’s Heineken Cup appear even more daunting although the fact they have three games at home may still give them an outside chance of qualifying.
The Ospreys has the lions share of territory and possession but the Scarlets somehow managed to stay in the contest.
Ospreys opened the scoring through Dan Biggar’s early penalty before Jones banged over a long-range penalty to level matters after the Ospreys strayed offside.
Biggar knocked over his second penalty before the Scarlets hit back with a try set up by flanker Rob McCusker who tore a hole in the Ospreys defence. He off-loaded to full-back Rhys Priestland who sent Jonathan Davies crashing over. Jones converted for the Scarlets to lead 10-6.
The Ospreys hit back with a well worked try to Bowe after Biggar and Lee Byrne combined to put the Irish winger over in the corner.
Jones and Biggar continued their personal tussle by trading penalties before the 20-year-old put over a wobbly drop goal in the 68th minute but Jones unerring boot edged the Scarlets in front again but a brilliantly struck penalty by Biggar put the home side in front by one point with time rapidly running out.
Going all out for the victory the Scarlets launched a promising attack and worked an overlap which Jones was hoping to exploit with his long pass but Bowe read it superbly to come in off his wing and juggle the ball before racing away to seal the victory.
