NEWPORT Gwent Dragons’ miserable Guinness PRO12 run continued as they lost their ninth league game in a row after succumbing to the Scarlets at the Principality Stadium.

They failed to bounce back from their European Challenge Cup semi-final heartache away in Montpellier last weekend as they were well beaten by the West Walians who kept their play-off hopes alive with a bonus point victory.

The Gwent side were outscored four tries to two and were second best to Wayne Pivac’s men for the most part, as their woeful record against the Scarlets continued, with just seven wins to their name in the 32 clashes between the pair.

This defeat means the Dragons haven’t won a PRO12 game in three months, since beating Leinster 23-13 in the pouring rain at Rodney Parade in late January, slumping to their 17th defeat in 21 league games with just bottom club Zebre to come away in Parma next week.

The Dragons did bring the game back to 27-20 with 10 minutes to go but it was their opponents who finished in control to take all five points and leave the Newport-based side with nothing.

They had started brightly after centre Adam Warren made a glorious break deep into opposition territory only for his side to be penalised at the breakdown when he was hauled down.

They built up pressure on the Scarlets only for openside Nic Cudd to give a free kick away for being accidentally offside as they were about to enter the West Walians’ 22.

After giving away a penalty at the ensuing scrum, the Scarlets went downfield and some dreadful defending allowed the opposition in all too easily, Wales centre Scott Williams finishing off for a try in his return match from a knee injury, which saw him out of the game for seven months, fly-half Steven Shingler converting for a 7-0 advantage after 10 minutes.

It wasn’t long before Shingler added to Dragons woes when he crossed for another try three minutes later after Williams tore through them from the restart, the No 10 adding the extras.

By this time they had also lost key player Cudd who was forced off the field with a head injury, to be replaced by Ed Jackson.

The Parc y Scarlets side threatened to run riot and were nearly in for their third touchdown just seconds later after they butchered a huge overlap after running back the restart again.

Also under huge pressure in the scrum, the Gwent region endured a nightmare first quarter.

But the bounce of the ball went their way in the 22nd minute when lock Rynard Landman charged down a Shingler attempted clearance before hacking ahead.

Number eight Taulupe Faletau put pressure on the covering Shingler and Warren pounced on the ball over the try-line, outside-half Angus O’Brien converting to bring it back to 14-7.

But from the restart the Dragons gave away a penalty when blindside Lewis Evans was harshly singled out by referee Ben Whitehouse for blocking, Shingler slotting the three points.

Faletau then brilliantly won his side a penalty at the breakdown after opposite number John Barclay picked up from the base of a scrum and O’Brien kicked it from 48 metres to reduce the Scarlets’ lead to 17-10 after 27 minutes.

But as soon as they got themselves back in the game, the Dragons allowed wing Steff Evans to run through them and a side entry penalty gave another three points away through Shingler.

Kingsley Jones’ men hit back immediately however when O’Brien got his second penalty in the 32nd minute to make it 20-13.

A lineout steal gave the Dragons a chance to put the Scarlets under the cosh again but O’Brien missed a kickable shot at goal after a breakdown offence.

Scarlets replacement prop Peter Edwards, on for Samson Lee, was sin binned in the 37th minute for a dangerous attempted tackle with no arms used on full-back Carl Meyer.

There was a half chance for the Dragons to score before the interval but the sides went into half-time with the West Walians seven points ahead.

With the Scarlets’ dominant set piece negated by Edwards’ 10-minute absence meaning uncontested scrums, the Dragons looked to take advantage of their one-man superiority.

But it was Steff Evans who broke their hearts after he touched down for their third converted try after Shingler and Williams combined to put him away for a breakaway score.

It was 27-13 after 47 minutes, the Dragons now having a mountain to climb.

They did try and get themselves back in it but were again penalised in the contact area during a promising period of play.

The Gwent side refused to throw in the towel and continued to run the ball at every opportunity but found it hard to make headway, Scarlets openside James Davies a constant thorn in their side.

They kept hammering away but were again turned over just inches from their opponents’ try-line.

But a loose clearance allowed the impressive Meyer to break and set up wing Adam Hughes who finished superbly while still having much to do, O’Brien made it 27-20 with his conversion in the 70th minute.

But it was the Scarlets who finished the stronger and they sealed the victory when replacement scrum-half Gareth Davies crossed after sustained pressure for their fourth converted score with five minutes to go.

Dragons: C Meyer, A Hughes, A Warren, J Dixon, H Amos, A O'Brien, C Davies (S Pretorius 54); P Price (L Garrett 72), E Dee (R Buckley 71), B Harris (L Fairbrother,), R Landman (M Screech 62), N Crosswell, L Evans (capt), N Cudd (E Jackson 10), T Faletau.

Scorers: Tries – A Warren, A Hughes, Conversions – A O’Brien (2), Penalties – O’Brien (2).

Scarlets: M Collins (G Owen 23), L Williams, H Parkes, S Williams (A Thomas 62), S Evans, S Shingler, A Davies (G Davies 62), R Evans (D Evans 71), K Owens (capt) (R Elias 71), S Lee (P Edwards 28), J Ball, D Bulbring (M Allen 65), L Rawlins, J Davies, J Barclay (D Evans 39-47, J Condy 76).

Scorers: Tries – S Williams, S Shingler, S Evans, G Davies, Conversions – Shingler (4) , Penalties – Shingler (2).

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Argus star man: James Davies