Scarlets ease to Judgement Day win against Dragons

United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v Dragons

Scarlets (17) 32

Tries: Mathias, Davis, Lewis 2 Pens: Costelow 2 Cons: Costelow 2, Lloyd

Dragons (3) 15

Tries: Tomkinson 2 Con: Reed Pen: Reed

Scarlets vanished a difficult play connected a precocious pinch a comfortable bonus-point 32-15 triumph against Dragons successful nan opening Judgement Day derby astatine nan Cardiff City Stadium.

Two tries from helping Tomi Lewis pinch further scores from Kemsley Mathias and Dan Davis, positive 10 points from Wales fly-half Sam Costelow ensured triumph successful nan United Rugby Championship (URC) contest.

Sio Tomkinson, who is leaving Dragons astatine nan extremity of nan season, spearheaded a precocious revival pinch 2 tries.

Wales caput coach Warren Gatland, who names his summertime squad connected Monday, will beryllium concerned by nan show of Dragons number 8 Aaron Wainwright limping disconnected astatine half-time, though coach Flanagan described it arsenic conscionable a "dead leg".

Scotland fastener Alex Craig was again outstanding arsenic he was awarded nan player-of-the-match accolade, while flanker Taine Plumtree would person impressed Gatland.

It was nan first clip Scarlets person enjoyed back-to-back wins this play arsenic they vanished 13th successful nan table.

The consequence for Dwayne Peel's broadside avenges conclusion successful this fixture past play and a nonaccomplishment astatine Rodney Parade earlier successful this campaign.

Zebre's conclusion to Glasgow connected Friday nighttime meant 15th-placed Dragons would not decorativeness bottommost but it has been different mediocre run for Dai Flanagan's side.

Dragons included flanker Ryan Woodman and centre Joe Westwood, while scrum-half Rhodri Williams led nan side, but hooker Elliot Dee was missing pinch an ankle injury.

Aneurin Owen, nan Dragons centre, and Scarlets prop Mathias were making their 50th quality for their regions and led nan sides out.

Scarlets had recalled Costelow and Samoa fastener Sam Lousi but nan duo made inauspicious starts.

Costelow missed touch while going for an attacking line-out, while Lousi was penalised for a no-arms tackle connected Dragons prop Rhodri Jones that allowed Will Reed to unfastened nan scoring pinch a punishment kick.

Scarlets levelled done Costelow aft Rio Dyer was penalised, earlier nan fly-half missed different footwear astatine extremity and past almost created a effort for Lewis.

Centre Eddie James was shown a yellowish paper for a tackle connected other number Owen, who was forced disconnected nan section pinch a caput injury.

Squad skipper Steff Hughes replaced Owen and his cross-kick almost group up a effort for Dyer, but nan Wales helping ran retired of room nether unit from Scarlets full-back Ioan Nicholas.

Costelow besides near for a HIA successful an incident wherever Wainwright picked up his injury. But Costelow's replacement, Ioan Lloyd, was progressive successful a slick Scarlets 2nd try.

Scrum-half Gareth Davies started nan move, which was carried connected by Lousi and Lloyd earlier Lewis provided nan try-scoring walk to flanker Davis.

The last walk was checked by nan tv lucifer charismatic (TMO) but nan effort was awarded, pinch Lloyd converting.

Scarlets led 17-3 astatine half-time pinch Costelow returning to nan field, while Dyer talented Scarlets a 3rd effort erstwhile his flick recovered other number Lewis who sprinted distant to score.

Lewis grabbed a double and nan bonus-point people earlier being helped disconnected nan section injured.

Replacement Dragons helping Sio Tomkinson pounced for 2 tries, but Costelow added a precocious punishment to disregard immoderate thoughts of a Dragons comeback.

Scarlets caput coach Dwayne Peel: "It was a bully ending. It was an important lucifer and we wanted to decorativeness nan play well.

"Last clip we turned up astatine Judgement Day we were mediocre and nan players brought that up successful nan week themselves.

"I can't responsibility nan boys complete nan past 2 weeks.

Dragons caput coach Dai Flanagan: "Today is precisely really we person been each season. It's difficult to bespeak connected conscionable 1 crippled because I americium astir apt reflecting connected nan full 12 months successful my head.

"I americium very gladsome it's over. It's been a reliable season. There are games we should person won and games we person been battered in.

"Personally I americium proud of immoderate things we person achieved and disappointed successful different things."

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tomi Lewis, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias (capt), Harri O’Connor, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Carwyn Tuipulotu.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Jarrod Taylor, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page.

Sin-bin: Eddie James 31

Dragons: Ewan Rosser; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Chris Hollis; Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (capt); Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Che Hope, Steff Hughes, Sio Tomkinson.

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Assistant referees: Rhys Jones, Nathan James (WRU)

TMO: Keith David (WRU).