The Scarlets cruised to a 32-15 bonus-point win over the Dragons RFC at the Parc Y Scarlets on Wednesday. The Scarlets led 24-03 at the halftime break and despite a two-try comeback by the Dragons in the second half, it was an easy win for the hosts.
The first forty minutes were statistically balanced on a knife's edge, however, the Scarlets were a lot more accurate and scored three tries at a regular interval to lead 24-03 at the halftime break.
After ten minutes of play, the Dragons' eightman Aaron Wainwright lost the ball in the tackle, whereafter, the Scarlets attacked wide. Tom Rogers goes up the touchline before the ball is moved from Johnny Williams to Gareth Davies and then to Blair Murray who scored the first try. Sam Costelow added the extra two points.
Two minutes later, Sam Costelow extended the host's lead to 10-00, with a penalty from 40 metres out. Three minutes later Taine Plumtree is penalised, allowing Angus O'Brien to open the Dragons' account with three points from the kicking tee.
The Scarlets hit straight back after the Dragons failed to deal with the restart. There's some lovely handling from Johnny Williams and Sam Lousi before a wonderful long pass from Josh Macleod finds Blair Murray on the edge. The Wales wing beats Rio Dyer far too easily to score at the corner, and Sam Costelow converted from the touchline to extend the Scarlets' lead to 17-03 and twenty-three minutes still to play in the first half.
With eight minutes still to play in the first half, the Scarlets' Josh Macleod, powers over off the back of a well-worked driving lineout to lead 24-03 going into the second half. The Scarlets were in total control at that stage.
From the kickoff, the Scarlets turn the ball over in the Dragons twenty-two. Great handling from Sam Costelow to Johnny Williams who almost blew it by not passing but does manage to offload from the contact. Joe Roberts lost control but the ball bounced into Ellis Mee's hands who scored the Scarlets bonus-point try.
The Dragons hit back with tries by Taine Basham and Che Hope to reduce the Scarlets lead to 29-15 during the first twenty-two minutes of the second half.
An Ioan Lloyd converted penalty extended the Scarlets lead to 32-15 with ten minutes still to play, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Scarlets: Tries: Blair Murray (2), Josh Macleod, Ellis Mee. Conversions: Sam Costelow (3). Penalty: Sam Costelow, Ioan Lloyd.
Dragons RFC: Tries: Taine Basham, Che Hope. Conversions: Angus O'Brien. Penalty: Angus O'Brien.
Teams
Scarlets: 15 Tom Rogers, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Max Douglas, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alec Hepburn. Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Vaea Fifita Taylor, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Eddie James.
Dragons RFC: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Jared Rosser, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Huw Anderson, 10 Angus O’Brien (c), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ryan Woodman, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez. Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Nick Thomas, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Che Hope, 22 Will Reed, 23 Harry Wilson.