Judgement Day saw two dramatic games and any number of high-class performances.
Only two points separated the Dragons and the Scarlets at the final whistle, while three points parted the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues.
Players from all four regions feature in our team of the day, and MARK ORDERS makes the calls...
15. Dan Evans (Ospreys)
Gareth Anscombe and Evans had fine games, though controversial incidents clouded matters for both.
Anscombe’s late penalty miss ultimately proved more costly than Evans’ yellow card, so it’s the Osprey who makes the cut.
Some of his running out of defence was special. He was his side’s most potent attacking threat and while he didn’t look so great sitting on the naughty step, he made a huge contribution to their win.
14. Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets)
His defence wasn’t watertight, but as a finisher he is deadly.
Lesser wings would have allowed themselves to be dragged into touch when that first try opportunity presented itself 26 minutes into the game against the Dragons . McNicholl skilfully dabbed the ball down but also kept his right foot in the air to avoid conceding a line-out.
There was also a lovely line picked for his second touchdown.
He is box-office, for sure. But he also has an eye for business.
Qualifying for Wales next season, he is set to prove some asset.
13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
Not perfect — Jordan Williams stepped past him as if he wasn’t there at one point — but he scored a try, set up another and ran strongly with ball in hand.
There were times in the second half when he showed signs of engaging his best form.
12. Rey Lee-Lo (Cardiff Blues)
He wore a No. 13 on his back but played too well to leave out, notwithstanding the bright effort of Jack Dixon.
So the Arms Park favourite is in at inside centre.
The Cardiff Blues backs were seriously dangerous against the Ospreys, making 12 clean breaks between them, and Lee-Lo was up there with the most menacing of them, at times fairly flying around the field.
11. Aled Summerhill (Cardiff Blues)
Another example of lightning in two shades of blue.
He may not have scored against the Ospreys but he scorched around the field and has the one thing no self-respecting wing should be without out, electric pace.
10. Sam Davies (Ospreys)
Josh Lewis played well for the Dragons and so did Rhys Patchell after he appeared off the bench for the Scarlets.
However, Davies edged them both with an intelligent, skilful display for the Ospreys.
It involved a lot of kicking, but it was accurate, clever kicking that helped ensure his side won the battle for territory against Cardiff Blues.
His work off the tee was also high class.
9. Rhodri Williams (Dragons)
There’s a case for including Tomos Williams, who looked ultra-lively as a replacement for Cardiff Blues, or Gareth Davies, who flicked out a lot of passes and scored a try for the Scarlets.
But the Dragons’ little general Rhodri Williams inched ahead of them both with his effort against the Scarlets.
He didn’t have much possession to deal with, but the forgotten Wales international was alert to attacking opportunities, kicked well and made good decisions, notably when spotting the light Scarlets blindside cover as he put Matthew Screech over for a try.
1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
The Ospreys needed someone to counter Cardiff Blues’ battery of turnover specialists and had the man for the job in Smith, who achieved a couple of key possession steals.
The 25-year-old also scrummed and defended well and popped up to score a try.
He is out of contract with the Ospreys this summer and it would not be clever if they let him slip through their fingers.
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets)
A great contest year between Wales squad members Owens and Elliot Dee.
Dee was at the heart of so much that was good about the Dragons as they came from behind to score a surprise win over the Scarlets.
But Owens delivered in a losing cause, doing all he could to lift his side as they struggled to find a high gear. He gets the nod for his outstanding ball carrying.
A mention, too, for Scott Baldwin, a hard worker for the Ospreys.
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3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues)
No tight-head truly excelled, if truth be told.
Lloyd Fairbrother worked hard for the Dragons, but it wasn’t as if any scrum was totally dominant on the day.
Perhaps the vote should go to Dillon Lewis, then. He may not have enjoyed his usual success at the breakdown but he caught the eye around the field against the Ospreys.
4. Matthew Screech (Dragons)
The unheralded youngster scored two tries which helped win the Dragons the game against the Scarlets.
He also fronted up in defence and put his hand up for carrying.
One of his touchdowns, the second one, he did supremely well to score, touching down despite an opposition hand in his face.
Much more of this and talk of Screech as being ‘unheralded’ will become a thing of the past.
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
He saw Gareth Anscombe slice back across him when the Cardiff Blue scored his team’s first try.
Maybe we’ll put that one down to rust after six weeks out.
But Jones still put in a shift, repeatedly doing what he could to hold up opposition players, clattering them in mauls and nicking the odd line-out.
Even when he’s not at his absolute best, he’s still better than the rest.
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6. Lewis Evans (Dragons)
Will Boyde made an immense amount of yardage with ball in hand for the Scarlets and Josh Turnbull worked tirelessly for Cardiff Blues.
But Evans stacked up a mountainous 22 tackles for the Dragons in their win over the Ospreys.
Without the Rodney Parade stalwart’s defensive excellence, they would probably have lost.
7. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Superb. Just superb.
Alongside Evans, Wainwright put in 21 hits, main of them uncompromising affairs that would have inspired those around him. He started by scragging Hadleigh Parkes, while countless other Scarlets players felt the force of Wainwright’s tackling.
The Scarlets were winning too much quick ball at one stage but the Dragons regrouped and fought back valiantly.
No one did more for their cause than the No. 7.
8. Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues)
If his effort against the Ospreys does prove his last game for Cardiff Blues, let’s just say he left behind some fond memories.
The big man was colossal for his side as he stole opposition ball, popped up in unlikely positions, tackled strongly and made ground on the charge.
He didn’t deserve to finish a loser.
On another day, Ross Moriarty would have been in this team, for he produced a Wales-calibre performance for the Dragons against the Scarlets. James King, too, grafted tirelessly, but Williams has to feature.
