| Winger Kevin Morgan scored his ninth Celtic League try of the season in only the third minute as the Scarlets’ defence fell asleep, but the scores were soon level when former Newport centre Matthew Watkins plucked an intercept out of the air and sprinted 75 metres to score under the posts. Scarlets backrower Dafydd Jones was the next man over the try-line as the home side ignored the strong wind in their faces.
Ceri Sweeney narrowed the margin with two penalty goals, before Dragons backrower Ian Gough was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Scarlets centre Salesi Finau and Finau himself was binned for a high shot of his own. Watkins bagged his second try after a Gareth Bowen chip through, and Bowen slotted a last-second dropped goal as his side ignored the wind to take a 22-16 lead at halftime.
Bowen and Sweeney traded penalty goals before Scarlets backrower Simon Easterby was yellow-carded for persistent infringing, and Dragons No 8 Michael Owen took advantage to power his way over from a close-range scrum. Sweeney’s conversion gave his side a one-point lead with 10 minutes left on the clock. Dragons centre Sione Tuipulotu was the next man to earn a yellow card and Bowen’s penalty goal in the 79th minute gave his side the lead. His next act was to convert Dafydd Jones’ second try and deny the Dragons a losing bonus point.
Scarlets: Tries – M Watkins 2, D Jones 2; Pens – G Bowen 2; DG – G Bowen; Cons – G Bowen 3
Dragons: Tries – K Morgan, M Owen; Pens – C Sweeney 4; Cons – C Sweeney 2
Halftime: Scarlets 22-16
Yellow card: I Gough (Dragons), S Finau (Scarlets), S Easterby (Scarlets), S Tuipulotu (Dragons)
|
