Eleven try Dragons Development impress

Free-flowing Dragons Development turned on the style as they romped to a commanding 73-21 eleven-try victory over Scarlets Development at Rodney Parade.

Wing Ewan Rosser and centre David Richards grabbed first half braces as Dragons opened a commanding 33-7 lead up by the break on home soil.

The opening attacking rugby and tries continued in the second period with back row Evan Minto, wing Lloyd Lewis and replacement Harry Rees-Weldon also securing try doubles.

Experienced lock Joe Davies captained a youthful side who also featured players such as Will Reed, Rosser, and Morgan Lloyd eager to stake first team claims.

Super Rygbi Cymru players Lewis, Richards, Nathan Evans and Joe Peard (all Newport RFC) and Joel Mahoney (Pontypool RFC) were also given a chance to impress.

The tries arrived as early as the eighth minute when Lloyd broke away and fed Richards to score. Reed converted.

Richards went from try scorer to provider as he stepped his opposite man and fed Rosser to scorch under the posts. Reed added the extras from out wide.

The home side grabbed a third try after powerful carries from Ryan Jones and Minto before Reed’s spitting kick into space bounced awkwardly for the covering defence and Rosser took full advantage.

Number Eight Owen Conquer showed his power to bounce off tacklers as Dragons looked to break from deep as the hosts showed a willingness to play at all times.

Richards grabbed a second try of the game when he picked off a pass in midfield to race away before a powerful driving maul was finished off by hooker Sam Scarfe.

Scarlets finally got on the score sheet and replied with a carbon copy maul courtesy of Joe Rees.

The visitors also started the second half on the front foot with Ben Williams making a sniping break and sending scrum half Rhodri Lewis over.

A emphatic home response was led by a surging break from cemtre Mahoney who took Dragons close to the line before Minto went over.

Dragons were caught out as Iori Badham raced down then left wing, moments after the home side looked set to score another maul, to record a long-range effort.

The reprieve was short-lived, though, as Minto hit back with a stunning run from deep and arched finish as the home side edged towards the half century.

The milestone came just after the hour mark when a delightful cross field kick from Harri Ford picked out Lewis for an eighth try of the afternoon.

Replacement wing Harry Rees-Weldon finished off a series of forward bursts with a powerful finish before Ford sparked an attack, Mahoney took it on, and Rees-Weldon grabbed another.

Lewis completed the scoring when he grabbed his second of the afternoon after intercepting in his own half and showed his pace to race clear.

Dragons now turn their attention to a friendly away clash with Ospreys Development at St Helens, Swansea next Saturday (November 16).

Timeline:

08m Richards t Reed c 7-0

11m Rosser t Reed c 14-0

14m Rosser t Reed c 21-0

24m Richards t Reed c 28-0

28m Scarfe t 33-0

32m Rees t Titcombe c 33-7

41m Lewis t Titcombe c 33-14

50m Minto t Reed c 40-14

54m Badham t Titcombe 40-21

58m Minto t Ford c 47-21

61m Lewis t Ford c 54-21

71m Rees-Weldon t Ford c 61-21

73m Rees-Weldon t 66-21

75m Lewis t Ford c 73-21

Dragons Development: Huw Anderson (J. Williams 51), Lloyd Lewis, David Richards, Joel Mahoney, Ewan Rosser (Rees-Weldon 56), Will Reed (Ford 56), Morgan Lloyd (Hope 51); Josh Reynolds (M. Williams 60), Sam Scarfe (Burrows 51), Owain James (Evans 51), Joe Davies (Peard 56), Nick Thomas, Evan Minto, Ryan Jones (Rees 51), Owen Conquer (Langton-Cryer 56)

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Morgan Williams, Nathan Evans, Joe Peard, Barney Langton-Cryer, Kobi Rees, Che Hope, Harri Ford, Jordan Williams, Harry Rees-Weldon

Scarlets Development: Ellis Mee; Jac Davies, Gabe McDonald, Elis Price, Iori Badham; Charlie Titcombe, Rhodri Lewis; Sam O’Connor, Joe Rees, Gabe Hawley, Ollie Close, Ed Scragg, Osian Williams, Keanu Evans, Ben Williams

Replacements: Lewis Jones, Max Marshall, Jac Pritchard, Dylan Alford, Evan Shelford, Dom Kossuth, Joe Demnan, George Macdonald, Steff Jac Jones, Gryff Watkins, Callum Woolley, Sion Jones.

Attendance: 1,022