A Scarlets Development side were well beaten by their Dragons counterparts in a free-scoring contest at Rodney Parade.
The home side shot out of the blocks to run in five unanswered first-half tries and although the Scarlets youngsters had their moments, the Men of Gwent finished in clinical fashion to win 73-21
Hooker Joe Rees, scrum-half Rhodri Lewis and wing Iori Badham, who raced in from his own line, crossed for the Scarlets in a match that would have been a valuable experience for the youngsters on display, a number of them still in college or university.
Scarlets made a late change to their starting line-up with second row Morgan Jones coming in for Ed Scragg, who was ruled out because of illness. Teenage back-rower Dom Kossuth was also withdrawn from the bench because of a shoulder issue.
After soaking up a period of early Scarlets pressure it was the home side who struck first through centre David Richards. Fly-half Will Reed converted.
Moments later Richards turned provider, sending wing Ewan Rosser over in the corner. Reed added the extras from the touchline.
Dragons and Rosser were celebrating another on 16 minutes, taking advantage of a back-field error after the Scarlets failed to deal with a kick through.
And it got worse for the visitors when Richards intercepted and coasted home for the fourth, then hooker Sam Scarfe pounced from a line-out rumble for the fifth.
Desperately needing something before half-time, the Scarlets pack delivered a strong line-out drive of their own for Swansea University hooker Rees to cross. Charlie Titcombe added the extras to make it 33-7 at the break.
Scarlets then claimed their second straight after the restart.
A strong carry by replacement Joe Denman set up the attack, Ben Williams cut a great angle to slice open the defence and the back-rower found scrum-half Rhodri Lewis on his inside for a run to the posts. Titcombe converted from straight in front.
However, back came the Dragons with a score from flanker Evan Minto.
The home side looked like they were over for another from a driving maul, but the ball squirted out on the line, it was picked up by Badham and the flying winger turned on the afterburners to sprint 100 metres unopposed to the opposite end of the field for the score.
Titcombe’s conversion made it 40-21, but virtually straight from the kick-off, Dragons responded through the rampaging Minto.
With a number of replacements entering the fray, Scarlets’ defence struggled to contain a home side oozing confidence.
Wing Lloyd Lewis was next to benefit, latching onto a cross-field kick for his side’s eighth with replacement Harry Rees-Weldon helping himself to a couple late on and Lewis racing clear for another to complete the try-scoring.
Scorers: Dragons – tries: D. Richards (2), E. Rosser (2), S. Scarfe, D. Minto (2), L. Lewis (2), H. Rees-Weldon (2). Cons: W. Reed (5), H. Ford (4).
Scarlets – tries: J. Rees, R. Lewis, I, Badham. Cons: C. Titcombe (3)
Scarlets: Ellis Mee; Jac Davies (repl Sion Jones 65) Gabe McDonald, Elis Price (repl Gryff Watkins 55), Iori Badham (repl Callum Woolley 55); Charlie Titcombe (capt; repl Steff Jac Jones 65), Rhodri Lewis (repl George Macdonald 65); Sam O’Connor (repl Max Marshall 65), Joe Rees, Gabe Hawley (repl Jac Pritchard 65) Ollie Close (repl Dylan Alford 50), Morgan Jones (repl Ollie Close 66), Osian Williams (repl Keanu Evans 77), Keanu Evans (repl Joe Denman HT), Ben Williams (repl Evan Sheldon 60).