Scarlets came back from 17 points down to beat Ospreys 38-22 in the first of their back-to-back West Wales derbies over the weekend.

Tries from Ospreys’ Morgan Morris and Iestyn Hopkins helped the visitors into a 0-17 lead after just 15 minutes, in front of 11,384 fans at Parc Y Scarlets.

After George McGuigan and Kieran Hardy were showed yellow cards, Scarlets rallied, scoring through Blair Murray and Vaea Fifita to level the scores at halftime.

Further scores from Wales trio Taine Plumtree, Joe Roberts, and Eddie James – who celebrated his new contract with a try – put the result beyond doubt, despite Dan Edwards’ fine solo try.

With the two rivals set to meet again next week in the Challenge Cup round of 16, Scarlets now have the upper hand.

In the United Rugby Championship, they are as close as can be. Level on 33 points each, Scarlet and Ospreys have exactly the same record (six wins, seven defeats and a draw from 14 matches), and have also picked up seven bonus points.

With both in touching distance of the play-offs, the two have plenty more to play for this season.

Discipline downs Cardiff in Italy

Cardiff lost a heartbreaker in Treviso, losing 20-19 to Benetton as Argentina international Tomas Albornoz slotted a 77th minute penalty.

Despite leading 3-14 in the first half, Cardiff’s ill-discipline left them with both Ben Donnell and Rory Jennings sent to the sin bin in the first half, and Cam Winnett joining them in the dying minutes.

Cardiff played some nice rugby in between dealing with numerical disadvantages, with Ellis Bevan’s try a particular highlight. Wales internationals James Botham and Evan Lloyd also crossed, but the visitor’s play-off hopes were dealt a blow as they only picked up a losing bonus point.

Dragons Struggle in Edinburgh

Dragons fell to their 13th consecutive URC defeat on Friday night, as they lost 38-5 to Edinburgh.

With their opening day victory over Ospreys now far in the distance, the only respite came through Wales international Aaron Wainwright’s try in the second half. However, Edinburgh were already 33-0 up by that point.

With the club out of European competition, just four more matches await, including derbies with Scarlets and Ospreys, as well as a trip to South Africa to face Stormers and Bulls.

If they can play spoiler to the other Welsh sides’ chances at a play-off spot, then a famous derby victory will represent some salve on the wound that has been this season for Dragons.

Wales outclassed in front of record crowd

England beat Wales 12-67 at the Principality Stadium, in a virtuoso 11-try display. The biggest ever crowd for a Wales women’s match – 21,186 – flocked to the Principality and were in full voice as Jenni Scoble scored the opening try to give Wales a 7-0 lead.

Wales would not score again until the 58th minute, when Kate Williams dived over after collecting a Carys Cox offload. The problem for Sean Lynn’s side, though, was that England had scored seven tries in the intervening period.

Four more – braces from Abby Dow and debutant Abi Burton – consigned Wales to a chastening defeat.

“We have to remember we’re playing against the best team in the world,” Lynn said.

“We have to get better, every game we’ve got to be getting better. We’ve got France, Ireland and Italy left, and we’ve got to keep getting better and better. Simple.

“I was asking them ‘how hard are they willing to fight for each other’ and they certainly showed they could today.”

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