Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Scarlets left red-faced as Dragons grab rare derby win

Matthew Screech

Matthew Screech scored the winning try two minutes from time as Scarlets’ hopes of a European Champions Cup spot suffered a blow following a 34-32 defeat to Dragons at the Principality Stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

It did not look likely when Dragons trailed 17-6 at half-time but 21 unanswered points in the third quarter set up their best win of the season.

Screech scored two tries for them, Jack Dixon the other with Josh Lewis kicking two penalties and three conversions and Jason Tovey one.

Johnny McNicholl scored two tries for Scarlets, Ioan Nicholas, Gareth Davies and Jonathan Davies the others, with Leigh Halfpenny adding two conversions and a penalty.

Dragons took a third-minute lead when Lewis picked himself up after being tackled late by Dan Jones to send over a penalty.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

The first 15 minutes were easily forgettable as neither side could make any impact against resolute defences and it was left to Lewis to extend Dragons’ lead with his second penalty.

Soon afterwards, the Gwent region, suffered a blow when Amos, who was making his final appearance for them before his transfer to Cardiff Blues, was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scarlets took immediate advantage as Nicholas rewarded a period of pressure by forcing his way over for Halfpenny to convert for his side to lead 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.

In the absence of Amos, Scarlets turned down two kickable penalties and their decision was rewarded when McNicholl outflanked the cover defence to squeeze in at the corner.

Amos returned but he could not stem the tide as Gareth Davies sneaked over from close range and despite Halfpenny missing both conversions, Scarlets were in firm control at half-time with a 17-6 advantage.

Within two minutes of the restart, Dragons looked to have reduced the deficit when Ross Moriarty kicked ahead and crashed over but the TMO ruled that the Welsh international number eight had lost possession of the ball when it rebounded back off a post.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite this setback, Dragons maintained their momentum to pick up a try from Screech with David Bulbring yellow carded in the aftermath before Scarlets’ prop, Samson Lee, was fortunate to escape another for a tip tackle.

Lewis missed a penalty before Dragons produced a superb try when Amos and Aaron Wainwright combined cleverly for Dixon to score.

Scarlets were stunned when Lewis hit them with a third try after intercepting a pass from Dan Jones to give Dragons a 10- point lead going into the final quarter.

Jones paid the penalty for his error as he was replaced by Rhys Patchell before Bulbring returned in time to see Jonathan Davies secure a bonus point with his side’s fourth try.

McNicholl brought his side level with his second before Halfpenny’s conversion and penalty looked to have seen Scarlets home until Screech’s effort crushed them with his try being awarded after countless replays that appeared to suggest that the lock had been dragged down short of the line.

PA

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
Search