Scarlets angry at 'unheard of' penalty count in derby loss

Josh Macleod returned from injury to captain Scarlets at Ospreys [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Scarlets boss Nigel Davies was left frustrated by an "unheard of" difference of penalties between the sides in their derby defeat by Ospreys. The Llanelli club suffered a 27-20 loss in the United Rugby Championship fixture in Bridgend after Jac Morgan's 75th-minute try. Ospreys led 17-5 at the break but Scarlets – who had centre Joe Roberts and prop Kemsley Mathias sin-binned in the first half – came storming back to lead 20-17 going into the closing stages before late anguish.

Interim director of rugby Davies was angry at referee Ben Connor and his officials penalising his side 21 times and giving just four against Ospreys. "We have to control what we can control. First half the penalty count was probably fair enough because we were under a bit of pressure in the scrum but we turned that around in the second half," he said.

"We were probably slightly on top in the scrum but were not getting the calls. "In a derby game where every breakdown is contested fiercely, to have that sort of penalty count is unheard of. " Lydiate to leave Dragons for full-time Wales role Elias enjoying rugby again after 'low period' The former Wales centre pointed to an incident after 66 minutes when scrum-half Dane Blacker was brought down five metres out by wing Evardi Boshoff and Ospreys got over the ball to win a clearing penalty.

"It was hugely frustrating and I can't ask for any more from the players, we played a lot of rugby and squandered a couple of chances," said Davies. "There was a key moment where we attacked and got right under the posts, for me that was a clear penalty and a yellow card because the guy didn't get up off his feet. "We were not getting those decisions and it was such a key moment.