Scarlets Secure Second Festive Derby Success Against Dragons

It was the turn of the Dragons to visit a freezing Parc y Scarlets in the second of the Festive Derbies, with the visitors looking for their first ever win in the stadium.
Angus O’Brien, who scored the match-winning try against the Ospreys, started at full-back with Wales international Liam Williams being given more time to get up to full fitness.
O’Brien was joined in the back three by another ex-Dragon, Tom Prydie, and Steff Evans.
Tyler Morgan, who made the switch from Rodney Parade in the summer, partnered skipper Steff Hughes in midfield, while Dan Jones and Kieran Hardy continued at half-back.
The front row of Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias and Javan Sebastian were retained, while Sam Lousi returned after being absent for the last two weeks, packing down alongside Jake Ball in the second row.
The hosts fielded an all-new back row trio. Blade Thomson, outstanding off the bench against the Ospreys, was given the nod at blindside; Sione Kalamafoni returned at No. 8, and Dan Davis made his first PRO14 start of the campaign. Davis replaced l niN I’m Josh Macleod, who picked up an ankle injury in the second half of the Ospreys win.
There were two changes among the replacements, with Ed Kennedy and Paul Asquith coming in alongside Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies.
The hosts were led out by Prop, Wyn Jones who was making his 100th appearance for the club. It was a promising start for the men in red who won the initial arial battle, allowing the Scarlets to set up an attack off a line-out on half way, finding gaps in the Dragons’ defence, but the ball was lost forward.
Despite attempting to vary their attack, a combination of silly errors and not quite being able to break through the Dragons’ defence made for frustrating viewing.
It was the Dragons who took an early lead with Josh Lewis slotting over a successful penalty to give them the lead by 0 points to 3.
Sadly, Jake Ball, who announced this week that he was leaving the Scarlets at the end of the season to rejoin his family out in Australia left the field early with what appeared to be a knee injury. He was replaced by Tex Ratuva.
There were flashes of attack from the Scarlets in what was a typical gritty derby encounter as the hosts maintained their dominance, despite it being a rather lack-lustre first half.
Jonah Holmes created a great try scoring opportunity for the visitors with a break from inside his own 22, but he was unable to get his final pass away.
Sione Kalamafoni found a similar gap in the Dragon’s defence, but a handling error saw the attack halted, however a huge hit from Prydie saw the Dragons pinged and offered the Scarlets an opportunity to get the scoreboard ticking. An added 10 meters offered Dan Jones a straight forward penalty attempt that he duly slotted over to even the game up at 3 points all.
The remainder of the first half became increasingly scrappy as the Scarlets’ injury list increased with Tyler Morgan being replaced by Paul Asquith and both Wyn Jones and Ryan Elias taking knocks to the head, though Jones did return to the field.
Josh Lewis missed a second penalty attempt to restore the Dragons’ lead.
The handling errors on both sides mounted up as the typical derby encounter neared the end of the first half.
The hosts ended the half looking for the game’s first try, but with the Dragons’ defence holding firm, they eventually opted to take the three points.
It was an easy attempt for Dan Jones who’s successful kick saw the Scarlets take the lead for the first time, right on the stroke of half time by 6 points to 3.
The second half started in a similar vein and it took quarter of an hour before any real talking point…and that was referee, Nigel Owens forgetting his cards whilst in the process of sending Matthew Screech to the sin bin for 10 minutes for an off the ball tackle.
The subsequent penalty led to the first try of the game with the hosts securing the line-out with Kalamafoni bursting through to score a typical ‘straight from the training field’ try.
Dan Jones added the extras to increase the Scarlets’ lead to 13 points to 3.
From the restart, the visitors attempted to hit back but the Scarlets’ determined defensive effort saw them driven backwards.
Exciting youngster, Sam Costelow made his first Pro14 appearance and almost immediately made an impression with a huge tackle on international Number 8, Aaron Wainwright.
The visitors strung together probably their best attacking move of the night with just 15 minutes remaining, but a huge defensive effort from Ratuva allowed the hosts to clear their lines.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Dragons opted to kick for the corner rather than secure the 3 points that could have given them a losing bonus point. After securing their line out, they drove towards the Scarlets’ try line, but the home team managed to bring the maul to ground. They recycled the ball, continuing their attack before the Scarlets regained possession and countered, with Angus O’Brien putting in a neat little chip, but the chasing Steff Evans put a toe in touch.
As the game drew to a close, with less than minutes on the clock, it was a superb effort from Costelow that sealed the game for the Scarlets.
After securing the line-out the hosts worked through the phases before a step off his left foot saw Costelow change angles and demonstrate his pace to race over unopposed for an impressive solo try. He added the extras just as the clock turned red to give the Scarlets a comfortable win by 20 points to 3.
Next Saturday the Scarlets head to Cardiff City Stadium to face the Cardiff Blues in the final of the Festive Derbies.