Newport Gwent Dragons maintained fortress Rodney Parade as they beat Celtic League champions Llanelli Scarlets in their first home league game of the season last night.

Ceri Sweeney kicked four penalties for the Dragons to give them a deserved victory and had they possessed a little more composure would have scored a couple of tries, though the conditions were treacherous.

It was a much better performance by the Dragons after their defeat at Cardiff, though the line-out was a bit of a problem, but their defence was particularly strong and they grew as an attacking force.

The Scarlets have now lost twice in a row and with two of their players sin-binned there appear problems at Stradey.

The Dragons were without Michael Owen because of a facial injury and they also lost prop Chris Anthony, replaced by Rhys Thomas.

The conditions were dreadful, persistent driving rain and the wind both at the backs of the Dragons. Outside half Sweeney quickly took advantage with a spiralling kick, then skipper Jason Forster brought Scott Quinnell down.

Llanelli tried to clear the ball, but Gareth Wyatt ran it back at them down the right touchline and when he was late tackled by hooker Matthew Rees, Sweeney put over a wide-angled penalty to give the Dragons a sixth-minute lead.

Quinnell was hounded by a trio of Dragons players and full back Barry Davies had to be sharp to clear, but again the Dragons had problems in the set pieces, this time the line-outs as they lost three in the opening ten minutes.

But the Dragons were on to everything in the conditions, making possession to the Scarlets of doubtful value.

The Scarlets missed a chance to draw level when Arwel Thomas was off target after referee Ireland penalised the Dragons for going over the top then marched them 10 yards backwards when Jamie Ringer argued.

Any kind of fluency was impossible in the conditions which, if anything, were getting worse and the game was understandably scrappy, mistakes aplenty.

The Dragons did try from a scrum when Sweeney put Jon Bryant through on the charge and when the Scarlets were penalised for going over the top Sweeney again obliged to double the lead after 23 minutes.

The Scarlets kept battering away at the Dragons line, but there was no way through as they were hurled backwards, drawing big applause from the 5,182 crowd.

And then they returned to the attack, Sweeney, having a much better game, kicking down field though the referee ignored a trademark high tackle from Finau.

But the Dragons missed a gilt-edged try scoring opportunity when the impressive Hal Luscombe broke clean through and delivered what seemed a try scoring pass to Nathan Brew, but the wringer failed to take it with the line at his mercy.

A further blow arrived just before the interval when Ringer was yellow carded for punching.

The Dragons made a change at half-time, replacing Rhys Thomas at tight head with Adam Black, normally a loose head.

The Scarlets laid siege to their line, but the Dragons just about held out and then Ringer returned to the fray, but the visitors were then reduced to 14 men when flanker Gavin Thomas was yellow carded for killing the ball.

The Dragons were also helped when the rain stopped and the wind dropped, Sweeney promptly planting a big kick into the Llanelli 22 where Bryant won a line-out and Luscombe ran brilliantly.

But skipper Forster was badly short-armed by Quinnell, dropping to his knees and looking groggy. Quinnell was rightly sin-binned, and it could easily have been red.

With Forster still on the touchline Sweeney booted his third penalty for Quinnell's foul play. Forster returned to the fray, but the Scarlets were now down to 13 men.

It could have been 12, but hooker Rees escaped with a warning after another high tackle.

Gareth Cooper replaced Baber after 59 minutes but, though reduced, Llanelli lock Adam Jones stole a Dragons line-out and almost made it to the line.

Thomas resumed, but again the Dragons threw away a try scoring opportunity when Luscombe broke through but instead of passing to the unmarked Moorage he held on and was tackled losing the ball.

But the Dragons were now much more comfortable and when the Scarlets were caught offside Sweeney landed another penalty to make it 12-0.

Sione Tuipulotu and James Richards replaced Bryant and Jones, with former Newport back row forward Andy Powell replacing Dafydd Jones. Wyatt was nearly clear after exchanging passes with Tuipulotu, but was caught by Phillips.

It was all Dragons now and Wyatt again, Tuipulotu and Luscombe were all denied tries by a whisker, but Sweeney made it five penalties with an injury time effort from in front.

Newport Gwent Dragons: K Moorage, G Wyatt, H Luscombe, J Bryant (S Tuipulotu 69), N Brew, C Sweeney, G Baber (G Cooper 59), R Snow, S Jones (J Richards 69), R Thomas (A Black 40), I Gough, P Sidoli, J Ringer, R Bryan, J Forster (captain). Scorers -- penalties: C Sweeney (5)

Llanelli Scarlets: B Davies, G Evans, M Watkins, S Finau, T Selley, A Thomas, M Phillips, I Thomas, M Rees, J Thiel, V Cooper (captain), A Jones, D Jones (A Powell 70), S Quinnell (C Wyatt 80), G Thomas.

Scorers -- none

Referee: Mr A Ireland (Scotland).