United Rugby Championship: Scarlets 27-38 Dragons

Dragons claimed their first win in six months with a United Rugby Championship victory over Scarlets.

Tries from Jack Dixon, Taine Basham, Jared Rosser, Taylor Davies and Rhodri Williams and 13 points from Sam Davies sealed the win.

Scarlets' hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship play-offs have been dented.

Dwayne Peel's side managed tries from Sione Kalamafoni, Liam Williams, Johnny Williams and Kieran Hardy.

Scarlets received three yellow cards, for Steff Evans, Corey Baldwin and Jonathan Davies, with the latter escaping being sent off for a high tackle on Josh Lewis.

It was a welcome second win of the season for Dean Ryan's Dragons side, with their last victory coming against Connacht in Galway in October 2021.

Two late tries clinched the triumph and ended a 13-match winless sequence. Dragons deserved the success after an outstanding performance which was also a first victory for the Gwent region at Parc y Scarlets.

Wales lock Ben Carter was one of four starting changes for Dragons and was excellent alongside Will Rowlands, while man-of-the-match Dixon was a revelation in midfield.

Scarlets made seven personnel alterations from the side that defeated Cardiff and had to cope with the late loss of injured lock Sam Lousi.

Former flanker James Davies brought out the match ball after announcing his retirement earlier this month at 31 because of concussion.

It was an eventful start with Wales hooker Elliot Dee forced off the field with a head injury after attempting to tackle Kalamafoni.

Scarlets skipper Davies, who had switched to inside centre, was shown a yellow card for a late high tackle on Josh Lewis.

The Wales centre was not sent off, with the officials deciding the first contact was on Lewis' shoulder before rising up to the head.

Wing Evans was then also sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul after tackling Lewis five metres from the Scarlets' line and cynically not releasing the Dragons player.

Lewis was forced to leave the field to be replaced by David Richards who produced an accomplished display in just his second appearance.

Centre Dixon capitalised on the two-man advantage as he charged over with referee Ben Whitehouse awarding the try.

This was despite a double tackle from Joe Roberts and Hardy casting doubt over whether the ball had been grounded.

Sam Costelow responded with a penalty before Scarlets responded by being restored to their full complement with a try for number eight Kalamafoni after patient build-up.

Following a break from Aaron Wainwright, an impressive individual short-range try effort from fellow Wales back row Basham restored the Dragons' lead.

Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies was shown a yellow card for this tackle on Josh Lewis

Scarlets lost centre Roberts to a head injury and he was replaced by Johnny Williams, who made an immediate physical impact.

He was prominent in the move which led to a try for Liam Williams, who had switched from wing to full-back after scoring twice against Cardiff last week.

The hosts' second score saw Scarlets to lead 15-14 at half-time.

Dixon turned provider when he broke through to set up a try for Rosser, although there was again controversy concerning referee Whitehouse.

He consulted the television match official to decide whether Dixon had been tackled by Costelow before carrying on. Whitehouse deemed the Dragons centre had not and awarded the try.

Scarlets restored their lead with some sublime handling from Corey Baldwin and Liam Williams before Johnny Williams crossed for an opportunist score. Angus O'Brien, who had come for the injured Costelow, converted.

Liam Williams was forced off injured to force a Scarlets backline reshuffle resulting in Hardy switching the wing and Dane Blacker coming on at scrum-half.

Hardy made an instant impression when he dived over for the bonus-point try following an excellent long pass from Jonathan Davies, with Dragons also punished after prop Aki Seiuli was shown a yellow card.

Wing Baldwin then became the third Scarlets player to receive a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and his dismissal proved crucial.

Dragons took advantage with tries from hooker Davies, on loan from Scarlets, and replacement scrum-half Williams to seal the historic win.

Scarlets: L Williams; Baldwin, J Roberts, J Davies (capt), S Evans; Costelow, Hardy; S Thomas, S Evans, Sebastian, J Price, M Jones, Shingler, Lezana, Kalamafoni.

Replacements: D Hughes, R Evans, O'Connor, Thomson, Macleod, D Blacker, O'Brien, J Williams.

Dragons: Lewis; Rosser, Warren, Dixon, Dyer; S Davies, Bertranou; Seiuli, Dee, Brown, Carter, Rowlands, Keddie (capt), Basham, Wainwright.

Replacements: T Davies, Reynolds, Coleman, J Davies, Fry, R Williams, Reed, Richards.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Assistant referees: Aled Evans, Ben Breakspear (both WRU)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU).