Rosser brace as Scarlets edge JDX

Wing Jared Rosser grabbed a try brace but a late score from Scarlets saw them snatch Judgement Day glory in BKT United Rugby Championship at Principality Stadium.

Dragons battled for a half-time lead in the capital with Jared Rosser going over for a try before Angus O’Brien scored a penalty on the stroke of half-time for a 8-7 lead.

An explosive opening to the second half saw Ashton Hewitt and Rosser go over before the visitors hit back.

Scarlets roared back through Alec Hepburn and Vaea Fifita snatching back the lead before O’Brien put the Men of Gwent ahead in the final quarter.

But the sting in the tail came with eight minutes left as Blair Murray scored to ensure maximum points for the visitors.

Dragons had won on four of their last five visits to Principality Stadium - including their last two outings against Scarlets at the venue on ‘Judgement Day’.

But this was a painful defeat to take after Filo Tiatia’s men had gone toe-to-toe with Scarlets all game before late heartbreak in the capital.

Dragons made eight changes to the side defeated at Edinburgh with co-captains Ben Carter and Angus O’Brien back while former Scarlet Scott Williams made his first start for the Men of Gwent.

Scarlets started on the front foot and opted to kick deep, after a penalty for a block in midfield, before going to corner after another infringement.

Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron went to the TMO after Scarlets crashed over, but the try from Sam Lousi was ruled out for offside in the build-up.

Lousi then immediately charged down a clearing kick and linked up with Josh Macleod before the returning Carter stripped the ball in the tackle.

Scarlets were in the ascendancy and a yellow card to Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths saw the visitors come strong once more only for solid maul defence to hold them out.

Tiatia’s men were being forced to dig deep as Scarlets continued to control territory and go to the corner and maul to build pressure.

That tactic finally paid off as prop Henry Thomas was driven over for the opening score. Ioan Lloyd added the extras.

Dragons finally enjoyed some territory with Williams and Owen running the hard yards in midfield.

A penalty gave them licence to play and O’Brien took our four players with a superb floated pass to send Rosser over out wide to cut the lead.

Dragons were now starting to control possession with Williams kicked in deep as they now looked to turn the screw as Basham and Wainwright came to the fore.

Hewitt did well to put Murray under pressure after running past Mee and more strong running from Wainwright and Williams secured a penalty.

The home side were finishing the first half strong and opted for the posts after another penalty, which O’Brien nudged over for the lead at the interval.

Dragons started the second half on the front foot with Wainwright bursting through on a Scott Williams’ flat pass before the ball was spun to Hewitt to race in.

It got even better as O’Brien produced a brilliant touch finder to put the Men of Gwent five metres out again after a penalty.

Patience was rewarded as forwards built pressure before Rosser crashed over for his second after offloads from Dee, O’Brien and Rhodri Williams.

Scarlets hit back with Alec Hepburn going over out wide after forward pressure, with Dee yellow carded to compound home misery.

With the extra man and with momentum the visitors took the lead as Vaea Fifita finished off a break from Tom Rogers. Lloyd’s extras popped them ahead by a point.

Macleod gave away a penalty for offside and O’Brien slotted the kick as Westwood replaced Williams in midfield.

The game continued to swing from end to end with Ewan Rosser producing a try saving tackle on Joe Roberts, but the penalty was secured.

Scarlets opted for the scrum and they looked set to go over only for the ball to spill loose as they looked to score.

But luck smiled on them moments later as a kick ahead bounced awkwardly for Ewan Rosser and Murray took the opportunity to pick up and score to secure the points.

Timeline:

20m Thomas t Lloyd c 0-7

27m J. Rosser t 5-7

39m O’Brien p 8-7

42m Hewitt t O’Brien c 15-7

46m J. Rosser t 20-7

50m Hepburn c Lloyd c 20-14

56m Fifita t Lloyd c 20-21

58m O’Brien p 23-21

72m Murray t Lloyd c 23-28

80m Lloyd p 23-31

Dragons RFC: Ewan Rosser, Ashton Hewitt, Aneurin Owen, Scott Williams (Westwood 58), Jared Rosser, Angus O’Brien (Reed 78), Rhodri Williams (Blacker 62); Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Jones 49), Elliot Dee (Coghlan 69), Paula Latu (Coleman 35), Ben Carter (Woodman 77), Ryan Woodman (Langton-Cryer 74), Shane Lewis-Hughes, Taine Basham (Jones 9-19, Lydiate 69), Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Rhodri Jones, Chris Coleman, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dan Lydiate, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Joe Westwood

Scarlets: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Macs Page, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod, Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Sam O’Connor, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Joe Roberts, Ioan Nicholas

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU, 11th league game)

Attendance: 28,328