The Dragons secured a 38-26 victory over the Scarlets at Rodney Parade to remain unbeaten in the United Rugby Championship this season.
Tries and scorers
Elliot Dee (twice), Anzelo Tuitavuki, Rodrigo Martinez, Huw Anderson and Robert Hunt scored the Dragons' tries, with Tinus de Beer and Jac Lloyd contributing six points between them from the kicking tee.
The Scarlets scored four tries of their own to leave Rodney Parade with a bonus point; Macs Page (twice), Sam O'Connor and Ioan Jones touched down, while Sam Costelow kicked six points.
Dragons player ratings
15. Huw Anderson 7 – The former Wales U20s full-back was very good in the air, while he also asked the Scarlets defence plenty of questions in attack. Claimed a try out wide in the second-half.
14. Rio Dyer 8 – The Wales international looked dangerous with ball in hand and made a couple of linebreaks. His take in the air from the restart also laid the foundation for Rodrigo Martinez's try. Has been out of favour at Test level for a while but this would have done him no harm ahead of the autumn squad announcement.
13. Fine Inisi 7 – The Tonga international carried hard and gave the Scarlets midfield a tough time. He also put some big hits in defensively.
12. Aneurin Owen 8 – The 25-year-old was outstanding and is unlucky to have missed out on the player of the match award. Owen carried the ball 14 times and fronted up defensively. He is such an intelligent player with his distribution unlocking the Scarlets defence on more than one occasion.
11. Anzelo Tuitavuki 8 – The Tongan international has been an excellent signing by the Dragons. Tuitavuki made huge metres with ball in hand and threw Ellis Mee onto his backside in the lead up to Rodrigo Martinez's try. He also sneaked over at the corner for a try of his own.
10. Tinus de Beer 7 – The South African playmaker controlled the game and kicked well. He also got his backline moving and kicked six points.
9. Rhodri Williams 8 – The 33-year-old enjoyed a fine game on his 150th appearance for the club. Williams controlled the game well, bossing the Dragons forwards around and providing crisp service to his backline while he was a constant threat.
8. Harrison Keddie 8 – The Dragons No 8 was outstanding, carrying the ball 16 times and putting in 12 tackles. He led from the front and helped dominate the Scarlets backrow. The top carrier.
7. Thomas Young 8 – Another fine performance from Young who was everywhere. The 34-year-old was a nuisance at the breakdown and carried well throughout.
6. Shane Lewis-Hughes 7 – The 29-year-old ensured the Dragons lineout ran smoothly while he put in a big defensive shift. Lewis-Hughes also made eight strong carries.
5. Ben Carter 8 – The Wales international brought considerable physicality to the Dragons’ front five, as the home side’s locks exerted their authority over their opposite numbers. Carter made nine tackles and played a big part in the Dragons set-piece gaining the ascendancy.
4. Seb Davies 7 – The former Cardiff lock was never shy of the heavy lifting, making seven powerful carries as he threw himself into ruck after ruck. It was Davies' best performance in a long time.
3. Robert Hunt 8 – The return of the South African tighthead is such a big boost to Filo Tiatia's side. Hunt made mincemeat of the Scarlets scrum at times, while he also carried hard. He deserved his try at the death.
2. Elliot Dee 8 (star man) – The Wales hooker has endured a tough time over the past 12 months due to injuries but he is back to his best and he thoroughly deserved his player of the match award. Dee ensured the lineout ran smoothly while he claimed two tries and looks well-placed to make a big push for a place in Wales' Rugby World Cup squad in a year's time.
1. Rodrigo Martinez 7 – The Argentinian international scrummaged well, giving Harri O'Connor a torrid time. Helped the Dragons achieve dominance up-front and claimed a try.
Replacements
16. Brodie Coghlan 5 – He was only on the field for nine minutes but did his bit.
17. Rhodri Jones 6 – The experienced prop helped the Dragons pack continue its scrum dominance after taking the field.
18. Dillon Lewis 6 – Lewis carried and scrummaged well before leaving the field with an injury.
19. Ryan Woodman 6 – The former Wales U20s captain got through a lot of work during his 24 minutes on the field.
20. Harry Beddall 6 – He was only on for 11 minutes but put his body on the line.
21. Che Hope 6 – Hope was solid upon entering the fray and helped keep the Scarlets backrow honest.
22. Jac Lloyd 6 – Solid.
23. Fetuli Paea 8 – Paea made a huge impact with a series of explosive carries to get over the gain-line, while there were also a couple of shuddering hits. His impact helped get the Dragons over the winning line.
Scarlets player ratings
15. Blair Murray 5 – The Wales full-back looked threatening with the ball but a bit shaky under the high ball.
14. Ellis Mee 4 – This was not Mee's best game. He was strong under the high ball but fell off a few tackles, including one on Anzelo Tuitavuki which led to a Dragons try and also knocked the ball on over the line.
13. Joe Roberts 5 – The Scarlets centre was solid, putting in some decent hits in defence.
12. Eddie James 8 – The Wales international made a huge impact with his carrying game. James always made significant post-contact metres, while his offloading game is also a big weapon.
11. Macs Page 8 – The 21-year-old crossed for two tries, one of which was a sensational individual effort from 65 metres out that will be a contender for try of the season. He also made some key tackles, one of which on Rhodri Williams prevented a try. It would be a surprise if he is not seriously considered for a Wales call-up before the World Cup.
10. Sam Costelow 6 – The Wales playmaker had a solid game, getting the Scarlets backline functioning well while his long looping pass put Macs Page over for a try just before half-time. Costelow also kicked reasonably well but he was on the back foot for most of the game.
9. Dane Blacker 6 – The 28-year-old looked dangerous with ball in hand and was always looking to up the tempo by taking penalties quickly. But he made a rash decision to tap and go deep in his own 22, which almost cost the Scarlets dearly. More good than bad though.
8. Osian Williams 5 – This was only his second start in the URC and he did not let himself down. The 20-year-old grafted throughout and put a big defensive shift in, but his long-term future may be at blindside flanker not No 8.
7. Dan Davis 5 – Davis is a workhorse who put in 16 tackles but the Scarlets backrow got outmuscled at times.
6. Josh Macleod 5 – The Scarlets skipper never lacks for effort and Macleod finished as the top tackler with 19 while he won one turnover penalty. But he gave away a costly penalty in the final quarter which resulted in a yellow card.
5. Sam Lousi 5 – The experienced Tongan did well to thwart the Dragons' driving lineout at times but he was part of a front five that struggled badly at times. At 35 he is not the force of old.
4. Alex Groves 5 – The South African put in a huge defensive shift, making 13 tackles. But he got outmuscled at times as the Dragons pack taught the Scarlets eight a lesson.
3. Harri O'Connor 4 – The Scarlets scrum was a huge issue and the Scarlets only had an 80% success rate which isn't good enough at this level. O'Connor had a difficult afternoon and he struggled to give the Scarlets a platform.
2. Ryan Elias 5 – Elias worked hard, carrying the ball five times while the lineout went well with him on the field. But he was part of a scrum that went backwards at times.
1. Kemsley Mathias 4 – The Scarlets scrum suffered badly and Mathias came second best against powerful South African Robert Hunt. But he did put in seven tackles.
Scarlets replacements
16. John McKee 5 – Put in a big defensive shift but one wild lineout throw almost directly cost the Scarlets a try.
17. Sam O'Connor 6 – He made a strong impact, doing well to burrow over the line for a try.
18. Gabe Hawley 4 – Struggled at the scrum.
19. Will Evans 4 – Evans is still finding his feet at this level but got his wires crossed with Blair Murray when trying to take a high ball which cost his side.
20. Tristan Davies 4 – Struggled to make an impact.
21. Gareth Davies 5 – Only on for 11 minutes but did nothing wrong.
22. Joe Hawkins 5 – Solid.
23. Ioan Jones 6 – Looked dangerous with ball in hand and took his try well.
