DRAGONS 26 SCARLETS 9

FULL back Martyn Thomas celebrated his Rodney Parade return after nine months on the sidelines with two tries to help put Newport Gwent Dragons in a cup semi-final for only the second time in their brief history.

The Dragons brought some fizz back with a deserved victory over Welsh rivals the Scarlets, putting them in the last four of the LV Cup next month.

It took them an hour to subdue their injury-hit opponents, but they finally got on top to end their six-match losing run against their Welsh rivals.

The pack eventually wore the Scarlets down, try-scorer Luke Charteris, Joe Bearman and Andrew Coombs well to the fore, and Thomas provided the sparkle behind.

The Hazell stand was packed to see a crucial cup-tie, the newly built terrace behind the posts well populated, too, and the fans were given the encouragement of a third-minute Matthew Jones penalty putting the Dragons into the lead.

But they couldn’t press home their advantage, though they were having the better of it territorially, and the Scarlets drew level when full back Dan Evans landed a long-range penalty downwind.

Martyn Thomas showed he has lost none of his electrifying pace despite his long lay-off and one sharp burst looked promising, but a Scarlet hand just got to his pass ahead of Aled Brew.

Andrew Coombs was well to the forefront as the Dragons renewed their efforts against a young but spirited Scarlets team who were proving difficult to break down.

Rob Sidoli was the dominant line-out forward, and from one perfect delivery Joe Bearman set off on a charge before offloading to Tom Willis and when the ball was recycled the Scarlets went over the top in front of their own posts, giving Jones the formality of his second penalty.

But the Scarlets were resilient and Rhys Thomas made his presence felt against his former team before Willis was pulled up on the intervention of a touchjudge for illegal use of the boot. Evans, however, put the kick just wide.

The Scarlets’ lengthy injury list and their prop problems in particular took another turn for the worse when acting captain prop Phil John suffered a leg injury and had to be taken off on a stretcher just before half-time.

There was still time for the visitors to draw level when Evans landed his second penalty after a dangerous run by centre Scott Williams to make the scores level at half-time.

Ashley Smith replaced Matthew Watkins, who had taken a heavy bump, but the Dragons continued to be given all they could handle and more at scrum time, despite the Scarlets’ front-row difficulties.

It was desperate defence now and it was no surprise when the Dragons went behind for the first time, Evans kicking another penalty.

That finally stung the Dragons into action and they scored the first try of the game after 49 minutes to regain the lead.

Full back Thomas sliced through the middle, Adam Hughes made more ground and Luke Charteris steamed up on the outside to nail the try.

The game was rarely less than feisty, with Rhys Thomas putting himself about, but the referee did no more than speak to him after he aimed a kick in the direction of Charteris.

But it still cost his side a penalty which Jones duly landed to stretch the Dragons’ lead to five points.

The atmosphere in the one true rugby ground left in Wales at the top level ratcheted up, chants of ‘Dragons’ echoing around the Hazell stand, especially when Hughes raced clear, but the referee had already blown up. But the Dragons were finally on top and Thomas made it a triumphant return to Rodney Parade action when he careered down the touchline and over for a try after being put clear by Pat Leach. Jones converted from the touchline.

The Dragons were laying siege to the Scarlets’ line now, and after a series of rolling mauls they moved the ball left where replacement Jason Tovey put Thomas over for his second try.

Newport Gwent Dragons: M Thomas, A Hughes, M Watkins (ASmith 40), P Leach, A Brew, M Jones (J Tovey 67), W Evans (M Petrie 73), H Gustafson (S Roberts 67), T Willis, captain (L Burns 61), P Palmer (D Way 47), L Charteris, R Sidoli (S Morgan 55), A Coombs, J Bearman (H Ellis 73), L Evans.

Scorers – Tries: L Charteris, M Thomas (2); conversions: M Jones; penalties: Jones (3).

Scarlets: D Evans, D Daniel, N Reynolds, S Williams, J Ajuwa (J Lewis 64), O Williams, G Davies, P John, captain (S Hopkins 36), R Lawrence (C Hawkins 68), R Thomas (D Howells 68), A Powell, N White, A Shingler (D Eager 52), D Welch (M Gilbert 76), N Cudd.

Scorers – penalties: D Evans (3).

Referee: Greg Garner (England).

Attendance: 5,521.