Dragons RFC produced a superb second half display to cruise past Scarlets 28-5 and open up the New Year with a bonus point triumph in the BKT United Rugby Championship at a partisan Rodney Parade.
Fly half Tinus de Beer opened the scoring for the home side but a scrappy and tight first half saw the hosts only take a slender 7-5 lead to the sheds.
However, two quickfire tries from Oli Burrows and David Richards at the start of the second half saw the Men of Gwent take full control while the visitors lost Max Douglas to a 20-minute red card.
Replacement hooker George Roberts grabbed the try bonus try late on to spark wild celebrations as Dragons won three in a row at home for the first time since January 2024.
Head Coach Filo Tiatia made four changes with Harri Keddie, Harry Beddall, Oli Burrows and David Richards all called up. There was also a late change as Ewan Rosser replaced Rio Dyer prior to kick-off.
Scarlets started on the front foot and had a try for Ellis Mee chalked off after less than two minutes after a forward pass in the build-up.
Back-to-back penalties gave Dragons field position and with another penalty secured at the driving maul a strong carry from Aneurin Owen rattled up close before Hope sent De Beer under the posts.
Scarlets were looking to play while Joe Hawkins and Gareth Davies looked to the skies or to exploit as Dragons had to be alert to the visiting kicking game.
A penalty at the breakdown saw Hawkins go for the posts, but he pulled his effort from in front of the posts.
Another breakdown penalty, this time for Dragons, allowed O’Brien to kick for territory and another soon after saw referee Ben Connor speak to Josh Macleod about the growing number against the visitors.
The next penalty duly saw Harvey Cuckson yellow carded, and Dragons immediately looked to strike only to lose ball in contact and see field position evaporate.
The home side were having to work hard in defence when Scarlets had the ball with Burrows forcing a knock on to huge cheers from a packed and vocal terrace.
A loose lineout gave Scarlets an attacking platform but De Beer was first to race back after Mee kicked into space.
Pressure was building for the visitors and, after the return of Cuckson from the sin bin, they scored as Mee stretched over and dotted down. Hawkins, though, missed his second kick of the afternoon.
A long kick downfield from Ioan Nichaolas ran dead to give Dragons and chance before the break and a scrum penalty saw O’Brien point to the posts but also kick wide of the target.
The start of the second half saw the TMO step in for head contact and the referee issued a yellow card to Douglas.
Dragons turned down points to go to the corner and patience was rewarded as Burrows immediately burrowed over for a second home score.
Burrows also reacted first to a loose lineout to kick in behind before referee Connor upgraded the yellow for Douglas to a red.
Dragons had the wind in their tails and struck again as a superb flat pass from Hope sent David Richards clear and he stepped past Nicholas to score.
Scarlets threw caution to the wind and forced field position quickly as they played open rugby. But a penalty for crossing saw the chance to strike back lost.
Tiatia started to unload the bench with Thomas Young, Levi Douglas all entering plus Wyn Jones for his 100th URC appearance.
A penalty at the breakdown gave Dragons a chance to drill a kick to the corner, but as the maul rumbled the play was pulled back for blocking. A massive home scrum and barrelling run from Wainwright forced Scarlets back.
The home crowd sensed a grandstand finale as O’Brien again went to the corner and this time patience was rewarded as Roberts dotted down for the try bonus.
He almost had a second with a superb try and finish chalked off by the TMO, but it mattered little as celebrations started at Rodney.
Timeline:
08m De Beer t O’Brien c 7-0
35m Mee t 7-5
43m Burrows t O’Brien c 14-5
48m Richards t O’Brien c 21-5
75m Roberts t O’Brien c 28-5
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, David Richards, Fine Inisi (Westwood 76), Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser, Tinus de Beer (Anderson 76), Che Hope (Williams 66); Rodrigo Martinez (Jones 54), Oli Burrows (Roberts 70), Robert Hunt (Dlamini 54), Ryan Woodman, Ben Carter, Harri Keddie (Douglas 60), Harry Beddall (Young 60), Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: George Roberts, Wyn Jones, Cebo Dlamini, Levi Douglas, Thomas Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Huw Anderson
Scarlets Rugby: Ioan Nicholas; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Joe Hawkins, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Harvey Cuckson, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod, Fletcher Anderson
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Josh Morse, Harri O’Connor, Jac Price, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Macs Page
Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 6th game)
Attendance: 8,369
