Scarlets sink Dragons
The Scarlets ended a run of four successive domestic defeats with an 18-3 home win over the Newport-Gwent Dragons.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 24/10/09 3:02pm
The Scarlets ended a run of four successive domestic defeats with a hard-fought 18-3 home win over Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Rhys Priestland was mostly to thank for the Welsh derby victory after kicking six penalities from six attempts to build on the Scarlets' uplifting Heineken Cup victory over London Irish.
The Dragons remain in search of their first Magners League away win since January, with James Arlidge kicking their only points at Parc y Scarlets.
Paul Turner's side, who had previously won three from five in domestic action, never looked like returning home with a win after an uninspiring performance in a lacklustre encounter.
Fly-half Priestland broke the deadlock with a penalty after a forgettable 13-minute opening before kicking another 24 minutes later, either side of Arlidge's opening effort.
Soon after Priestland's second penalty the Dragons almost scored the game's first try when Sean Lamont's missed tackle saw the ball escape over the line with Richard Fussell and Martyn Thomas in pursuit before it was grounded by the Scarlets' man.
Miss
The Dragons missed another chance to snatch the lead as the match neared half-time when full-back Thomas kicked through for Ashley Smith, who gave chase before the ball trickled into touch only metres from the line.
Prop Iestyn Thomas burst through for the Scarlets four minutes after the re-start before offloading to David Lyons, but referee Peter Allan pulled play back for crossing as the number eight neared the line.
Priestland took some of the pressure off the hosts with two further penalties from distance in the 50th and 54th minute then slotted over his fifth of the game before Dragons wing Aled Brew was sin-binned with 13 minutes left.
That marked the final nail in the visitors' coffin and a sixth penalty from as many attempts by Priestland wrapped up the Scarlets' win.
