With eight players absent from the team due to international call ups, with Wales welcoming Australia to the Millennium Stadium next week, it was a chance once again for the young Scarlets who had an opportunity for the region during the World Cup to show their abilities.

Only Men Aloud got the evening off to a fine start rousing the enthusiastic crowd before the players took to the field for an all Welsh derby. The biggest cheer by far was for our very own Stephen Jones, leading his team to the pitch to mark his 300^th appearance for the club. A truly fantastic Scarlet!

With less than two minutes on the clock, the Dragons are penalised and Jones steps up outside the 22 on the left and his kick puts the Scarlets in front. 3-0.

The Dragons get on the attack, but it's all very flat. The Scarlets infringe and the Dragons get a penalty between the half way and the ten metre line. It's over, and Jason Tovey pulls his team back level. 3-3 after 6 minutes.

Less than a minute later the Scarlets are penalised at the scrum and Tovey's touchfinder puts them in the Scarlets 22 for the first time. From that possession, the ball moves across their backs to ex Scarlet Martyn Thomas who sets Aled Brew free and he crosses the tryline. The try is disallowed by the TMO.

The Scarlets are trying to fight back and get into the Dragons half, a lively mid-field break comes from Gareth Maule and his deft little kick ahead for Nic Reynolds just rolls into touch. The attack does bear fruit however as the Scarlets get a penalty. Jones slots it over from outside the 22 and it's 6-3 after 18 minutes.

Another dangerous break from the Dragons sees Aled Brew gather a chip ahead and almost get his backs moving towards the try line. The Scarlets take hold of possession and move the ball about and within no time they are just 5 metres away from the Dragons tryline. Sione Timani drives forward, but the Dragons clear their lines. A second attack soon follows, with Jones prominent, and the Dragons infringe in a similar place to where the last penalty was given. Jones' kick is over and it's 9-3 after half an hour.

Tongan newcomer Viliame Iongi, who arrived in Llanelli on Wednesday, comes on for his Scarlets debut as a replacement for centre Gareth Maule. It's Dragons pressure once more, with Brew threatening and then the forwards breaking the tackles. The Scarlets are penalised just outside the 22 and Tovey makes no mistake. 9-6 after 36 minutes.

Scarlets kick ahead, chased by Iongi and Ben Morgan, and debutant Iongi gathers and drives for the line followed by the supporting players. The home crowd were in no doubt of the try. The referee however waited for the TMO's decision. Jones converts and it's 16-6 the last action of the half.

Half time score: Scarlets 16 Dragons 6

As the second half gets under way, early Scarlets pressure is turned round by the Dragons who are soon on the Scarlets line. They start as they were through much of the first half, on the attack. The ref decides that a Dragons pass was forward and then penalises the Scarlets for off-side! The crowd are slightly confused! Tovey's kick is over and it's 16-9 after 6 minutes of the half.

A deft Jones kick gets his team into their 22. A stunning tackle by Jones on Chavangha gets the crowd going and keeps the Scarlets near their 22.

The Scarlets bring on fresh legs in the form of forwards Iestyn Thomas, Emyr Phillips, Mat Gilbert and Lou Reed. The Scarlets are penalised at the scrum again and, just inside the Scarlets half, Tovey misses with his kick. Deacon Manu and Rhodri Williams come on for the Scarlets. We're into the last quarter and the Scarlets are hanging on to their lead despite a quite second half scoreline.

The Scarlets are awarded a penalty following an offside offence. Dan Evans steps up just inside their half, and his kick is only just short. From the restart the Scarlets are again in the attack and in their 22, Coombs kills the possession and sees yellow for his troubles. Jones slots the kick over and it's 19-9 after 28 minutes and 2800 points for Stephen in his Scarlet career.

With Tovey off, it's youngster Steffan Jones who gets to kick a penalty awarded to the Dragons in front of the posts on the 22. He succeeds and it's 19-12 with 5 minutes left. The Dragons infringe during a Scarlets attack and are penalised. They give away another 10 metres for back-chat and Jones' kick sails through the uprights. 22-12.

Final score Scarlets 22 Dragons 12

RaboDirect PRO12 Man of the Match: Aled Brew

The Scarlets now look ahead to an away fixture against Ulster next weekend before welcoming Munster to Parc y Scarlets early December for the third round of the Heineken Cup.