Dragons end Scarlets jinx after Condy’s rush of blood

SCARLETS assistant coach Ioan Cunningham believes Jack Condy’s second-half red card proved costly as the WestWalians lost for the first time to the Dragons in over three years.

Condy punched a Dragons player in the back of the head after a ruck and was sent off in the 44th minute. The Men of Gwent capitalised on the extra man and ran in four tries in the final half hour.

Nick Crosswell bagged the first before Carl Meyer, Harrison Keddie and Sam Beard all crossed.

Cunningham said: “The red card certainly had an impact on the game. We had the momentum and the boys were in control then you could see this young group looking around.

“But I have to give credit to the players. They showed great character especially at the end, some of the defensive sets were outstanding. The group can grow from this.”

Corey Baldwin threatened a comeback for the Scarlets when he dived on his own kick to touch down, but Keddie and Beard extinguished any hopes of that.

A staggered opening period saw young flyhalves Dan Jones and Angus O’Brien trade penalties with the visitors easing into a 9-3 lead.

But O’Brien’s clever inside step created enough space for Beard to collect a pop pass to go over by the posts for the opening try.

Dafydd Hughes responded just before halftime to squeeze the Scarlets ahead but four minutes after the interval Condy turned the game on its head after his moment of madness and Crosswell soon benefitted from a mammoth rolling maul.

The Dragons were roaring and quickly found another. O’Brien again was at the forefront as his grubber kick was pounced upon by charging fullback Meyer who crossed beneath the bar.

But the Scarlets pierced the home defence as wing Baldwin had enough pace to tap down his own kick, to cut the deficit to three.

Flanker Keddie silenced the visiting charge with a bonus-point try in the corner before Beard put the seal on the victory with his second at the posts.

Gwent backs coach Shaun Connor said: “We’re not so happy with the performance, but the result was good for us. I felt we were a little more accurate in the secondhalf so that’s pleasing.

“We were quite sloppy in the first-half, but the red card affected them and certainly had an impact on the game.”