LOSS PROVES NEED SOLVING

Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams is tackled by Johnny McNicholl as he dives for the corner.

Picture: Huw Evans Agency

Iestyn Rees after they stripped the ball from Holmes and Steff Evans raced away. Sam Costelow converted.

Ten minutes later, the Dragons took the lead again, with great interplay between Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty setting the platform for Jordan Williams to cross out wide. Sam Davies’s conversion went over via a post.

A Sam Costelow penalty on 24 minutes closed the gap for the Scarlets after his side lost Morgan Jones and Tom Rogers to first-half injuries.

But the Dragons extended the lead once more with their third try.

Again, it was Moriarty and Wainwright linking up to score, with the former putting the latter over, after another strong carry from Holmes.

The visitors used their captain’s challenge – one of three new law trials being used in the Rainbow Cup – to question the decision, but the try was approved by TMO Dan Jones.

But two quickfire tries from the Scarlets saw them lead going into the break.

First, Steff Evans crossed in the corner after a scorching break from Angus O’Brien and a try-scoring pass from Dane Blacker.

Then it was scrum-half Blacker who scored after he spotted a gap close to the ruck and used his pace well.

Blacker then did well to send Ryan Elias over, but the try was ruled out for a forward pass.

The Dragons started the second half strongly, with Rio Dyer finishing off a superb team try started by Aneurin Owen, with Evan Lloyd and Jack Dixon also playing a crucial role.

Lloyd’s impact off the bench shone through again just before the hour mark, cutting a fine line before slipping the ball to Owen to notch up the Dragons’ fifth try.

Dragons captain Rhodri Williams looked certain to score as he raced into the corner, but his acrobatic attempt to finish failed under pressure from Johnny McNicholl.

There was worse to come for the Scarlets, with their porous defence conceding the worst of the lot minutes later.

From first phase, Holmes cut through the Scarlets midfield with far too much ease, before stepping through a non-existent tackle to score.

That appeared to be that, only for the Scarlets to hit back with two more tries to make things interesting.

First, Evans breezed over untouched for his second, before Johnny McNicholl picked off a loose pass to race away.

However, the comeback was shortlived, with Wainwright forcing his way over for his second try late on to end any hope of a Scarlets victory.

Davies kicked a couple of penalties shortly after to move the Dragons beyond the 50-point mark and bring this high-scoring encounter to an end.