It’s five alive for Scarlets

SCARLETS A ran out comfortable 36-10 winners at Rodney Parade, outscoring the Dragons XV by five tries to one as both regions tested out their squad depth. With so many star names away with Wales, it was an opportunity to give a run-out to those players who will be relied on heavily during the international period.

Despite having 15 men on Test duty and others out injured, it was the Scarlets who showed themselves to have the deeper resources as they dominated proceedings.

There were two tries from replacement scrum-half Will Homer, who really caught the eye in the second-half and looks a quality recruit from Jersey. Javan Sebastian and Marc Jones had touched down from close range off well-worked lineout moves to establish a 15-0 interval lead, with Jones going over while Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother was in the sin bin for pulling down a maul.

Then, after the break, the Scarlets pulled well clear, capitalising on a second yellow card for the hosts, scoring two tries while winger Jared Rosser was off the field following a tip tackle. Dragons XV scorers: Try: J Rosser; Con: W Reed; Pen: W Reed

Team: D Howells; O Jenkins, J Thomas, A Owen, J Rosser; J Lewis, L Baldwin; C Maguire, E Shipp, L Fairbrother, B Carter, J Maksymiw, H Taylor (captain), B Fry, T Basham. Replacements: R Lawrence, J Reynolds, C Coleman, M Williams, G Young, D Babos, W Reed, R Dyer, E Lloyd.

Scarlets A scorers: Tries: J Sebastian, M Jones, W Homer (2), S Costelow; Con: A O’Brien (3), S Costelow; Pen: A O’Brien,

Team: T Prydie; R Conbeer, T Morgan, P Asquith, A Brew; A O’Brien, D Blacker; R Evans, Marc Jones, J Sebastian, T Ratuva, Morgan Jones, E Kennedy, J Morgan (captain), U Cassiem. Replacements: T Davies, S Evans, D Evans, K Mathias, W Kruger, H O’Connor, J Price, T Phillips, J Miles, D Davies, C Tuipulotu, W Homer, S Costelow, J Roberts, I Nicholas. Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)