Despite what the score line suggest, the Dragons played some excellent rugby throughout the game, but were ultimately no match for the irrepressible Scarlets.
The Scarlets victory came thanks to a brace of tries each for winger Angharad de Smet, starting her first game for the Scarlets this season and impressive debutant Rachel Rees playing out of position at full back, along with further tries for Delyth Davies, Jenny Hawkins and outside half Jodie Evans, with Evans converting five of the tries.
Indeed, in a dazzling team performance full of outstanding individual contributions, not least from the back-row trio of Alisha Butchers, Rachel Taylor and captain Sioned Harries along with an unusual centre pairing of Jamie Davies and Natalie Walsh, it was the display of poise and control of Scarlets number 10 Jodie Evans that shone the brightest in a player of the match performance.
Another shining light for the team in red was the performance of Under 18’s winger Katie Thicker, making her senior debut, whilst she may not have scored her all-round contribution in both attack and defence points to a very exciting future and is further evidence that there is no slowing down of the Scarlets development programme.
After the game a jubilant Scarlets head coach, Daryl Morgan said, “We asked for a positive reaction after the Ospreys game and the players didn’t disappoint. The challenge for us as players and coaches is to push on again, and raise our game even further.”
In the other game the Ospreys defeated the Blues 43-5 with Robyn Wilkins’ haul of 13 points leading the way.
First half tries by Siwan Lillicrap, Sinead Breeze and Keira Bevan put the Ospreys 19-5 ahead at the break.
The Blues started with high energy that brought with it a physicality at the contact area and a determination in defence but the Ospreys took their chances.
Blues scrum half Jess Pritchard and player of the match, No8 Abbie Fleming, were at the heart of the action throughout the first half and a try come for the Blues with Rhi Parker making an outstanding run to go over in the corner just before half time.
But in the second half the Ospreys seized control with Adi Taviner, Kelsey Jones, Carys Phillips and Wilkins scoring tries.
