Scarlets run riot and Cardiff triumph in Boxing Day derbies

The Scarlets halted a two-match losing streak in the Pro14 in style by thrashing the Ospreys 44-0, while Cardiff Blues edged out the Dragons in the Welsh derbies on Boxing Day.

Following confirmation of Liam Williams’ return from Saracens at the end of the season, Scarlets put on a show in a rampant win over their rivals.

It is now 10 defeats in a row in all competitions for Ospreys, who were 20-0 down at the break, with half of Scarlets’ first-half points coming via the boot of Leigh Halfpenny.

Steff Evans and Ryan Conbeer went over in the first half, and both players doubled their tallies prior to the hour mark, with Kieran Hardy and Josh Macleod also crossing to complete the rout and lift Scarlets up to second in Conference B.

Unbelievable scenes.@scarlets_rugby run rampant at Parc y Scarlets to secure a massive win over @ospreys #GuinnessPRO14 #RivalryUnrivalled #SCAvOSP pic.twitter.com/zy2YHZptPs

— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) December 26, 2019

In the other match of the day, Cardiff claimed the bragging rights with a closely fought 16-12 triumph over the Dragons.

The visiting Dragons managed two tries to the Blues’ one, but accurate kicking from Jarrod Evans and a final penalty from Jason Tovey gave Cardiff a four-point lead heading into the closing stages.

Dragons’ hopes of a comeback were made slimmer when Ashton Hewitt was sin-binned with 10 minutes remaining and Cardiff held firm to claim a fourth straight win.

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