During the opening exchanges the Scarlets were quicker in mind and deed and were recycling efficiently. From one foray into the Dragons 22, llively hooker Delyth Davies took the opportunity to find a gap out wide to open the Scarlets account. Centre Jodie Evans duly converted with only four minutes played.
The Scarlets scrum with a dominant front row throughout, were gaining promising attacking opportunities for the backs with one touchline dash by North Walian centre Elen Evans discovering wing Jasmine Joyce on her inside shoulder to sprint the necessary 20 meters to the try line for another converted try.
Prop Catrin Edwards showed her usual hunger early on whilst loose head Caryl Thomas was the complete article throughout.
The Dragons regrouped admirably for a period of time with scrum half Amy Day leading by example, ably supported by an industrious back row including stalwart Rachel Taylor. However the Scarlets were able to clear their lines when under pressure in their own 22 and from one other attack during the final 10 minutes of the half an offside call allowed Jodie Evans to maintain her 100 percent success from the kicking tee to extend the advantage to 17 points.
The second half was in its infancy when Nat Walsh gained a turnover in the Dragons half and the ensuing midfield switch granted stand off Hannah Jones enough of a gap to get to the try line for another converted try that broke the Dragons resistance.
The introduction of substitutions did little to detract from the Scarlets dominance with back rower Sioned Harries next to appear on the score sheet as she took a quick tap penalty following a high tackle and caught the defence cold as she crashed over the white wash. Soon afterwards she was able to force her way over once again as she picked up from a forward moving scrum some eight meters out.
Wing replacement Brittony Price was next to leave a trail of would be defenders in her wake as she sprinted clear along the touchline to ground by the posts. Evans maintained her impressive kicking form by converting her sixth from six but sadly failed with her final attempt from the touchline when Joyce was released to score her second in the corner and draw the match to a close.
The match that followed between the Ospreys and Blues was a far more evenly contested affair. Following early Ospreys dominance and a try for Kerin Lake the Blues gained parity on the stroke of half time through Rafiuke Taylor. The stalemate was broken in the Ospreys favour with a second half penalty by Rhian Nokes to grant an 8-5 victory.
This match proved that the Scarlets will be faced with a far sterner test over the coming weeks, beginning with the Ospreys challenge next Sunday.
