Dragons U18s produced a gutsy last-gasp display to win their final game of block one 31-28 at Llandovery’s Church Bank against Scarlets U18s on Friday afternoon.
The Young Men of Gwent trailed going into the final stages before a driving maul saw flanker Zac Little go over with the final play of their game and make it three wins in a row.
First half tries from Little and Morgan Suller left Dragons trailing 18-12 at half-time with Scarlets fullback Rhys James kicking two penalties from near halfway.
Second half scores came through fly-half Louis Morgan and captain George Bradbury before Little’s second in the final seconds.
Dragons started brightest with repeated phases against a strong Scarlets defence before Little capitalised on a spilled ball to score from a yard out. Fly-half Morgan added the extras from near the posts before Scarlets hit back with a try through their driving maul with a touchline conversion bringing the scores level.
A brilliant tackle in the corner from two or three Dragons players prevented a second Scarlets score.
It was an indication of the strength of both side’s defences when Scarlets full back James opted for posts from near the half-way line with an impressive kick putting his side in the lead.
Dragons wing Dylan Cole was denied in the corner for the second time in the game with Scarlets going over soon after through a quick counterattack.
Before half-time a great Rhys Wood break lead to a Dragons penalty with Suller going over at the base of the driving maul.
Scarlets increased their lead on the stroke of half-time with another long-range James penalty leaving Dragons trailing 18-12 at the break.
After a cagey start to the second half Dragons retook the lead when, after a stoppage for injury, the pack drove Scarlets off their ball at scrum time with Morgan scoring in the corner before converting his own score.
Dragons seemed to have all the momentum, but an interception and canter in from Scarlets eight Harvey Thomas meant that his side retook the lead.
There were plenty of turns to come however, with the Dragons pack getting on top with a superb driving maul leading to captain Bradbury going over.
A third long-range James penalty extended Scarlets’ lead.
With seconds remaining, sustained Dragons pressure and a succession of penalties resulted in a lineout five metres out and with the whole team joining in Little went over to win the game.
Dragons U18s: Liam Lawlor (Bedwas); Rhys Dyer (Caerleon), George Bradbury (Whitehead)(c), Jack Williams (Abergavenny), Dylan Cole (Caerphilly); Louis Morgan (Caerphilly), Isaac Williams (Whitehead); Logan Leonard (Pontypool Utd), Morgan Suller (Whitehead), Gabe Pugh (Bargoed), Olly Beynon (Haberdashers’ Monmouth), Gethin Clarke (NHSOB), Rafe Llewelyn (Monmouth), Zac Little (Whitehead), Troy Raymond (Caerleon).
Replacements: Jimmy Sargeant (Pontypool Utd), Rudi Creel (Pontypool Utd), Yi Sheng Chi (Risca), Ton Vizard (Monmouth), Cam Lewis (Senghenydd), Elis Anderson (Penallta), Rhys Wood (Bargoed), Alfie Davies (Machen).
