Dragons XV were defeated 36-10 by Scarlets A in an entertaining friendly encounter at Rodney Parade on Friday afternoon.
Dragons named a side full of Academy products and young talent for the clash as the backroom team looked to give valuable game time and opportunity.
Wing Jared Rosser grabbed a try in the second half for Dragons while a number of players also impressed to give the coaching team plenty of food for thought.
Dragons were dealt an early blow with playmaker Josh Lewis forced off with a head injury after five minutes and replaced by young fly half Will Reed.
The home side were being tested all over the park in the opening exchanges, but superb work form the industrious Ben Fry secured a penalty at the breakdown to stem the flow of pressure.
Angus O’Brien opened the scoring with a penalty after 12 minutes before big tighthead prop Javan Sebastian rumbled over from close range for the opening try of the game.
Dragons thought they had responded with a slick attacking move as centre Aneurin Owen brushed past one tackler and offloaded to midfield partner Joe Thomas.
The ball was taken on by wing Owen Jenkins before Luke Baldwin looked to score, but the scrum half was held up as the home pack looked to drive him over.
Dragons were battling back into the game but were dealt a blow when Lloyd Fairbrother was yellow carded after a series of infringements by the home pack.
The extra man counted on the stroke of half-time as Wales international Rob Evans took the ball on and front row partner Marc Jones burrowed over for a 15-0 lead at the break.
Reed got Dragons on the scoreboard after the break with a sweetly struck penalty before away replacement Will Homer dived over down the short-side.
Dragons were again down to 14 men, with Rosser the latest man to be yellow carded for a tip tackle.
Sam Castelow and Will Homer scored quickfire tries to pull the visitors clear by the midpoint of the second half.
Dragons, though, made sure they had the final word with Rosser first to a ripped ball as he sped past Aled Brew to score, with Reed converting.
Timeline:
12m O’Brien p 0-3
18m Sebastian t O’Brien c 0-10
39m Jones t 0-15
43m Reed p 3-15
48m Homer t O’Brien c 3-22
54m Costelow t Costelow c 3-29
56m Homer t Costelow c 3-36
64m Rosser t Reed c 10-36
Dragons XV: Dafydd Howells, Owen Jenkins (Dyer 58), Joe Thomas, Aneurin Owen (Edwards 64), Jared Rosser, Josh Lewis (Reed 5 (Lloyd 65)), Luke Baldwin (Babos 48); Conor Maguire (Reynolds 51), Ellis Shipp (Lawrence 65), Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Carter, Joe Maksymiw (Young 65), Huw Taylor (Williams 47), Ben Fry, Taine Basham (Coleman 33)
Replacements: Rhys Lawrence, Josh Reynolds, Chris Coleman, Max Williams, George Young, Dan Babos, Will Reed, Rio Dyer, Evan Lloyd, Connor Edwards
Scarlets A: Tom Prydie; Ryan Conbeer, Tyler Morgan, Paul Asquith, Aled Brew; Angus O’Brien, Dane Blacker; Rob Evans, Marc Jones, Javan Sebastian, Tevita Ratuva, Morgan Jones, Ed Kennedy, Jac Morgan (c), Uzair Cassiem.
Replacements: Taylor Davies, Shaun Evans, Dylan Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Werner. Kruger, Harri O’Connor, Jac Price, Tom Phillips, Joe Miles, Dan Davis, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Will Homer, Sam Costelow, Joe Roberts, Ioan Nicholas
