The two sides played out an entertaining draw at Parc y Scarlets to end their season
Taine Plumtree dives over for his first try(Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)
The Scarlets and Dragons finished their season with an entertaining 35-35 draw in Llanelli.
Here’s how the players rated…
Scarlets
15. Ioan Jones: 5
Second start of the season, Just a little loose at times.
14. Tom Rogers: 6
Final outing for the Scarlets. Threw himself into everything as always, but little really went his way.
13. Macs Page: 7
Another busy performance, if a little messy at times. But deserved his try.
12. Joe Roberts: 6
Carried hard at 12, while he got through a big shift defensively. Popped up with a couple of turnovers, too.
11. Blair Murray: 6
Perhaps not the occasion for him, but showed some moments of quality in tough conditions.
10. Joe Hawkins: 6
Will rue the two missed kicks at goal, but solid enough from the fly-half otherwise.
9. Dane Blacker: 6
Looked lively around the fringes at times, while his kicking caused the Dragons some problems.
1. Josh Morse: 6
Last week’s cameo showed how good he is around the park. Scrum went relatively well, while he got through a load of work on both sides of the ball.
2. Ryan Elias: 6
Typically involved in everything on both sides of the ball.
3. Archer Holz: 6
Will be happy with how the scrum went against former Scarlet Wyn Jones.
4. Jac Price: 6
Decent enough shift without doing a great deal – although there were a couple of big hits.
5. Max Douglas: 7
The lock signed off his Scarlets career with a typically busy, if a little ill-disciplined, performance. Perhaps lucky not to receive a yellow.
6. Jarrod Taylor: 8
Scarlets’ most frequent carrier, while he made a heap of tackles. Sometimes pushes the envelope a little – which doesn’t always help in a team penalised as frequently as the Scarlets – but there’s a nice edge to him.
7. Josh Macleod: 8
Very busy throughout, making 18 tackles. Didn’t always get the decisions he’d like at the breakdown, but came up with some big interventions late on.
8. Taine Plumtree: 9
The Scarlets were without the talismanic Fletcher Anderson for the first time since he arrived from New Zealand, but Plumtree filled in well. That finish in the opening minutes was remarkable.
Ended up being involved in all five of the Scarlets tries, with his efforts to set up scores for his fellow back-rows showing how he can bend the game to his will when he’s on it.
Replacements
16. Harry Thomas: 5
Little time to make an impact in the final five minutes, but chucked himself about.
17. Sam O’Connor: 6
Got through some carries after coming on.
18. Harri O’Connor: 6
Scrum continued to be strong after his introduction.
19. Dan Davis: 6
On for the final 20 minutes, with some solid work either side of the ball.
20. Osian Williams: N/A
Didn’t make it on.
21. Gareth Davies: 6
Not the way he’d have wanted to celebrate a new deal, with a yellow card.
22. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones: 6
Few nervy moments, plus the yellow card, but picked himself up well to set up Page’s score.
23. Jac Davies: 5
On for the final few minutes. Little time to make his mark.
Dragons
15. Angus O’Brien: 6
Doesn’t always pick the right option. But the full-back has one hell of a boot on him. His break set up Wainwright’s score.
14. David Richards: 6
Solid outing from the wing – capping a fine season that has seen him go from the office back to professional rugby.
13. Fine Inisi: 6
Didn’t get involved as he might have, but made an impact when he did carry.
12. Aneurin Owen: 7
The glue of the Dragons’ midfield was heavily involved as you’d expect.
11. Rio Dyer: 7
Strong work in the air at times for the wing. Lovely work in the build-up for the penalty try – showing Wales what they are missing.
10. Tinus de Beer: 6
Can be a little messy in his execution, but his tactical kicking was good and he’s tough as teak defensively.
9. Niall Armstrong: 6
Did well to hold up Josh Macleod over his own line, while there were some smart kicks from the departing scrum-half.
1. Wyn Jones: 6
Scrum didn’t always go his way, but got through a lot around the park.
2. Brodie Coghlan: 7
Missed out on Wales selection on Monday, but fronted up well here – crossing for the Scarlets’ second.
3. Dillon Lewis: 6
Days after a Wales recall, this was a decent enough performance by the tighthead. Some good carries and one crucial breakdown penalty near his own line.
Discipline went missing a little in the second-half before he was replaced.
4. Seb Davies: 6
Got through a number of tackles and was the Dragons’ main lineout target.
5. Ben Carter: 7
Big shift in defence from the Wales second-row.
6. Ryan Woodman: 6
Decent defensive shift, while he was a solid lineout option.
7. Thomas Young: 8
Same old, same old from Thomas Young. Plenty of work, some lovely touches and the odd breakdown turnover.
8. Aaron Wainwright: 8
As fine a servant as any club could wish for, Wainwright has carried the Dragons through some dark days. On his final appearance, he was typically at the heart of everything.
Led the way in carries, including a hefty one in the build-up to their first try, and deservedly crossed for a score.
Replacements
16. Elliot Dee: 6
First lineout was picked off by Plumtree for Macleod’s score. Willing carrier throughout, though.
17. Rhodri Jones: 5
Couldn’t stop the Scarlets scrum being on top late on.
18. Chris Coleman: 5
Had a tough time at the scrum when coming on.
19. Levi Douglas: N/A
Didn’t get on.
20. Harrison Keddie: 6
The new Wales call-up didn’t make as much of an impact as he might have liked, but still threw himself into contact when asked.
21. Rhodri Williams: 5
Didn’t really bring as much control as you’d hope, with some loose passes.
22. Harri Ackerman: N/A
Didn’t get on.
23. Huw Anderson: N/A
Didn’t see any action.
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