NEWPORT Gwent Dragons took advantage of a red card for ex-Cross Keys flanker Jack Condy to power to a bonus point victory over the Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

The Dragons put a sluggish first half behind them to run out 36-21 victors at Rodney Parade, with centre Sam Beard (2), lock Nick Crosswell, full-back Carl Meyer and flanker Harri Keddie scoring tries.

They were aided by the dismissal of Condy for an off-the-ball punch in the opening stages of the second half and put the squeeze on with their more experienced bench to run out deserved winners.

It may have ‘only’ been the Anglo-Welsh but the success kept the feel-good factor going at Rodney Parade after the excellent wins against Brive and Connacht, while it also ensured the end to a run of nine derby defeats stretching back to the European quarter-final win against Cardiff Blues in April, 2015.

The Dragons frequently relish the tag of being underdogs but the boot was on the other foot for them after a Welford Road tonking in their tournament opener.

The Tigers had been preparing for their Aviva Premiership clash with Harlequins - and 19 of 23 that romped to the 42-3 win will feature on Sunday - while the Dragons had rung the changes.

Their inexperience meant the trip to the East Midlands was a shot to nothing but the Rodney Parade side simply had to make it three home wins on the spin after selecting their strongest side available for the Scarlets.

The reason was three-fold.

Firstly, they wanted to build towards their return to Guinness Pro12 action against Edinburgh on Saturday. Secondly, they wanted to maintain their winning run in NP19. Thirdly, (and arguably of least importance) they wanted to keep in touch with Northampton and Saracens in the tussle for the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-finals when the tournament resumes in the New Year.

In came the likes of Crosswell, Rynard Landman, Ed Jackson, Sarel Pretorius and Pat Howard while the only novices in the XV were tighthead Leon Brown and blindside Harri Keddie.

That meant they were favourites for their clash with a much greener Scarlets side, who hadn’t played a competitive game at Rodney Parade since 2013 because of Judgement Day at Principality Stadium.

However, the visitors made a confident start and deservedly went into a 6-0 lead through the boot of fly-half Dan Jones, who punished an indisciplined Dragons start.

A good lineout drive allowed Angus O’Brien to reduce the deficit to three points but the home side didn’t get going in a rather underwhelming first quarter.

Yet another offence enabled Jones to succeed with a third effort and the Dragons were struggling to get tempo in their game and were second best in terms of possession and territory.

They needed a spark and got one on the half hour when strong one-out carrying was followed by O’Brien jinking in the 22 and offloading for centre Beard to dive over.

O’Brien’s extras made it 10-9 but the Scarlets deservedly led at the break thanks to a try with the last play of the half when Jones’ chip over the top was gathered by centre Gareth Owen and then, after charge upon charge on the line by the pack, hooker Dafydd Hughes sneaked over for a score that his kicker improved.

Coaches Shaun Connor and Ceri Jones, holding the reins in the Anglo-Welsh rather than boss Kingsley Jones, must have been tempted to throw some tea cups in the changing room after a subdued first 40.

South Wales Argus:

And their side were given a big advantage just five minutes after the restart when Scottish official Mike Adamson, on the advice of his touch judge, showed a red card to former Keys flanker Condy.

The Dragons had the wind in their sails and Beard was close to a second only to be denied by a foot in touch down the left but they weren’t to be denied after 52 minutes when a lineout drive was stopped illegally only for captain Crosswell to power over while advantage was being played.

O’Brien converted majestically from the right touchline for a 17-16 lead and then added the extras to make it 24-16 when his attempted grubber fortuitously bounced into the grateful mitts of full-back Meyer.

Back came the 14-man Scarlets with wing Corey Baldwin winning the race to a kick over the top only for Keddie to secure the bonus point from close range after Beard had gone close following a burst by returning Wales centre Tyler Morgan.

Win secured, the Dragons kept playing with the clock in the red and, after opting for a scrum from a penalty, Beard crashed over for his second.

Dragons: C Meyer, P Howard, S Beard, A Warren (T Morgan 58), A Hewitt, A O’Brien (A Robson 77), S Pretorius (T Knoyle 45), S Hobbs (T Davies 45), R Buckley (R Thomas 45), L Brown (B Harris 45), N Crosswell (captain), R Landman (M Screech 58), H Keddie, O Griffiths (N Cudd 64), E Jackson.

Scorers: tries – S Beard (2), N Crosswell, C Meyer, H Keddie; conversions – A O’Brien (3), A Robson; penalty – A O’Brien

Scarlets: T Williams, R Smith, I Nicholas, G Owen (captain, B McBryde 44), C Baldwin, D Jones (J Maynard 61), A Davies (D Smith 61), D Evans (L Garrett 52), D Hughes (T Davies 40), N Thomas (S Gardiner 70), T Beirne, R Bernardo, J Condy, J Macleod (T Phillips 52), M Allen.

Scorers: tries – D Hughes, C Baldwin; conversion – D Jones; penalties – D Jones (3)

Red card: J Condy

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Attendance: 3,539

Argus star man: Nick Crosswell