DRAGONS 20 SCARLETS 28
THE Scarlets maintained their push for the RaboDirect Pro12 play-offs with an entertaining victory over a much-improved Dragons side in the opening match of Welsh rugby's Millennium Stadium Judgement Day double header.
Wing George North, whose future with the Scarlets is shrouded in uncertainty, claimed a try double, while fellow international Jonathan Davies crossed for another.
Outstanding Scarlets skipper Rob McCusker admitted afterwards he was disappointed his side hadn't gone on and conjured the all-important bonus-point score.
But it was still the West Wales region's fifth league win in six matches and with three home matches remaining in the regular season they are firmly in the hunt for a top-four place.
The Scarlets dominated the opening half, yet somehow went into the changing rooms level 10-10 at the interval.
A penalty from fly-half Owen Williams rewarded his side's early pressure and with Wales No. 8 Toby Faletau sin-binned after a series of Dragons infringements, the Scarlets pulled further clear when North surged over.
The 20-year-old powerhouse took a deft inside pass from scrum-half Aled Davies and with the Dragons defence struggling to cover, the winger's pace took him away from Dan Lydiate and to the whitewash.
Williams's conversion made it 10-0, but the Leicester-bound No. 10 then struck the upright with a penalty from straight in front.
The Scarlets created plenty of opportunities, but poor execution and wrong options meant chances went begging and the Dragons made them pay in the closing minutes of the half.
Little appeared on when scrum-half Jonathan Evans had possession at a ruck on the Scarlets 22.
However, a sharp dummy-and-go fooled prop Phil John and Evans enjoyed the freedom of the Millennium Stadium to sprint to the line.
Full-back Tom Prydie converted, then added a penalty with the final kick of the half to send the teams into the break all square.
The second period started in similar fashion to the first, with the Scarlets on top.
A point-blank Williams penalty restored his side's lead before he and Prydie swapped three-pointers.
The Dragons, with former Scarlets full-back Dan Evans hugely impressive at fly-half, looked far more of an attacking threat in the second half.
But the game was killed off with a quickfire try double by international duo Jonathan Davies and North.
Davies scrambled over after great work by his midfield partner Scott Williams, then straight from the kick-off the Wales centre gathered and good hands by full-back Gareth Owen and hooker Ken Owens – who had a major impact after coming on at half-time - sent North haring down the touchline for his second.
It gave the Scarlets 13 minutes to register a potentially crucial try bonus, but instead it was the Dragons who had the final say with a deserved try for man of the match Evans.